From Special Reports
MACON — The Central Academy fast-pitch softball team is making the most of its first chance to play host to the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class A North State tournament.
Cortney Gaylord and Allie Beth Rigdon combined on a no-hitter in a 13-0 victory against North Sunflower Academy in the team’s first game of the day.
Rigdon then duplicated the feat in Central Academy’s 11-0 victory against DeSoto Academy. The win helped Central Academy (13-9) secure a spot in Monday’s elimination round.
Central Academy will play host to Calhoun Academy at 10 a.m. Monday.
The top four seeds will advance to the overall Class A State tournament. Monday’s games will determine the seeding for that event.
“They played well and were very, very focused,” Central Academy coach Sammy Lindsey said.
Against North Sunflower, Sadie Lindsey had a double, Ashly Brown had a single, Kelsey Robbins and Rigdon had two singles, and Coley Disbrow had a single.
Gaylord walked two and struck out six in four innings. Rigdon struck out two of the three batters she faced in the fifth.
Against DeSoto Academy, Brown had a single, Robbins had a home run and a single, Savanah Stapleton had a home run and a double, Rigdon had a single, and Sara Gaylord had a single.
Rigdon pitched all five innings. She walked one and a hit one batter. She struck out five. Brown, who was playing right field, threw a runner out at first base on the final play in the fifth to preserve the no-hitter.
“The pitchers pitched well, and when they put the ball in play we made all of the plays,” said Lindsey, whose team didn’t commit an error in the two games. “It was solid. It was just a solid effort.”
Class AAA
North State tournament
n Heritage Academy eliminated: At Cleveland, the Patriots (16-9) saw their season end with two losses on the first day of the tournament at Bayou Academy.
In game one, Park Place Christian defeated Heritage Academy 6-2. Macy Walters had two hits. Brooklyn Waldrep had two RBIs. Kaitlyn Oswalt pitched all seven innings. She struck out seven.
In game two, Clarksdale Lee Academy beat Heritage Academy 6-4. The Patriots scored four runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead.
But Clarksdale Lee answered with three runs in the top of the fifth to account for the final margin.
Tyler Rhett had two hits. Waldrep also had a hit. Kaitlyn Hocutt had two RBIs.
Oswalt and Sydney Adair combined to work in the circle.
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