Brooklyn Waldrep has seen the steps the Heritage Academy fast-pitch softball team has made in a little more then a month.
Waldrep knows the team can take even bigger strides forward.
If Tuesday’s performance is any indication, the Lady Patriots should be well on their way.
Heritage Academy flashed timely defensive plays, received clutch hitting, and big pitches in key situations from Madison Sears to earn a 5-4 victory against Central Academy. The game was shortened to four and a half innings due to the time limit.
“We definitely have improved (from the beginning of the season), and the team effort has gotten a lot better,” said Waldrep, who plays second base. “We are picking each other up. Madison had a hard game, but we all picked her up and helped her. We have gotten a lot better at that. We used to not talk at all.”
Sears, a senior right-hander, struck out the final batter with the bases loaded to help the Lady Patriots improve to 7-5. Heritage Academy was coming off an eight-inning victory against Clarksdale Lee Academy on Monday.
Heritage Academy coach Gary Harris said Sears, who walked nine and hit a batter, wasn’t as sharp as she has been this season, but he credited her for staying focused and coming up with the pitches the team needed.
“Even though she had a lot of walks, she made big pitches in big spots, and that can’t be overlooked,” Harris said. “The defense was very good for us, at times, and we had some letdowns. With that many walks and that many wild pitches and passed balls, you should get beat. Our girls found a way to win. I am tickled how they are growing up.”
Waldrep and shortstop Shiloh Ellis flashed the finest plays of the afternoon. Waldrep, who had two hits, came to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning with a runner at first base. She showed bunt on the first pitch strike to see what the defense was going to do to cover for a possible bunt. She squared again on the next pitch from Courtney Gaylord, but she pulled her bat back and lined a shot through the right side that went for a double. Following a double play that erased a run at home. Waldrep scored on a wild pitch with what proved to be the winning run.
Waldrep showed in the preseason she had the power to drive the ball to the fence. The work she and Ellis have done at the plate have paid off in the top two spots in the Lady Patriots’ batting order.
“I have never been able to do that before,” Waldrep said f pulling the bat back and lining a hit through the hole between first and second base. “It feels so good when you’re able to do that. I have never done that before this season. Coach showed us how to do that at the beginning of the season.”
Ellis, who used to play outfield, ranged to her left at shortstop to stab a hard-hit groundball by Savanah Stapleton. Ellis kept her footing and threw strong and hard to first base to retire the runner.
In the fifth inning, Ellis backed up third base and was in position to stop a throw from the catcher that deflected off the third baseman’s glove with the potential tying run at third base.
Little things like that are helping the Lady Patriots to make strides in Harris’ first season. Waldrep said there is no reason to stop doing them — and more — now.
“We have improved a lot, but we don’t need to stop here,” Waldrep said. “We’re not perfect. There are still things we need to work on. We have made a huge step, but we can’t give up now. We have to keep going and make that next giant step.”
Blake Rigdon had a triple and scored three runs for Central Academy. Paige Buchanan added a sacrifice fly for the Lady Vikings (8-7), who stranded eight runners in scoring position.
Central Academy coach Sammy Lindsey said his team has been in a hitting slump recently, but that he likes the strides his young team has made. The Class A Lady Vikings are 4-1 in the district and have split games with Winona Christian, leaving their postseason destiny in their hands.
“We were playing really well, but we’re struggling a little of late, but we have time to work it out,” Lindsey said. “We had a couple of young moments stuck in there. For the overall season, they have matured. Every once in a while those young moments show. As a coach, I have to realize that.”
n In other prep action Tuesday, Michaela Mills had four aces, 20 assists, and four kills to lead the Starkville High School volleyball team to a 3-0 victory against Ackerman. Set scores were 25-21, 25-19, 25-15.
Khris Carr had three aces, six kills, and six digs, April Reese had five kills and 10 digs, Stacie Young had six kills, Courtney Wilson had four aces, four kills, and seven digs, and Noa Kathryn Hardin had nine digs for the Lady Yellow Jackets (7-7). The team will play host to Amory on Tuesday.
n Justine Bell and Rachel Strickland had goals Tuesday to lead the Immanuel Christian girls soccer team to a 2-0 victory against Bayou Academy. Bell also had an assist for the Lady Rams, who held a 21-0 edge in shots. The team is scheduled to play host to Manchester Academy at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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