In high school sports action last week, Caledonia’s softball team kept its hot streak going with a narrow win while its baseball team ended its losing streak in another tight contest. Meanwhile, New Hope’s softball team enjoyed a walk-off winner.
New Hope
It took eight innings but the Trojans’ softball team grabbed a 3-2 win over Lafayette on Thursday to split the series in dramatic fashion. Lea Kathryn Hardy hit a double in the eighth inning to bring home Addison Branch for the game-winning score. The double was Hardy’s only hit of the game as the team was led by Lexi McBrayer, Tatum McBride and Kennedi Martin at the plate with two hits each. Kaselyn Harcrow pitched the complete game and gave up seven hits, two runs and struck out six.
The team couldn’t bring that momentum into a game against Itawamaba Agricultural on Friday and fell, 12-7.
The Indians erupted for eight runs in the first inning and added two in the second, one in the third and one in the seventh to sail away with the nonconference win. New Hope (9-9, 1-1) scored three in the first, one in the third and fifth innings and two in the seventh. The team played at Hamilton yesterday and takes on Columbus on the road at 6:30 p.m today.
The Trojans’ baseball team wrapped up its first Region 1-5A series of the season on Friday with 2-0 loss at Lafayette in a sweep.
Both teams struggled to find runs in the game until the Commodores broke the contest open in the sixth inning where two runs scored on a fielding error. In a pitchers duel, New Hope (8-9, 0-2) was held to just one hit by Brayden Edmiston and Lafayette had three hits off hurler Carson Willis. He went the distance and struck out nine batters and walked two. Commodore pitcher Easton Thompson also worked all seven innings and struck out 10 Trojans with no walks.
New Hope looks to snap a two-game skid today at 7 p.m. at Pontotoc.
Caledonia
The Cavs red-hot softball team clinched its first Region 1-5A sweep of the year on Thursday with a 15-0 win over Columbus then grabbed a 5-4 win at Eupora on Friday for its fourth straight victory.
The Cavs (12-1, 2-0) scored two runs in the third and three more in the fifth while the Eagles added one run in the second and two in the fifth. Eupora landed one more run in the seventh to make it a once-score game on a hit-by-pitch, but hurler Kennedy Trotter managed to close out the game with her second strikeout and flyout. Four Cavs produced one hit each, and Madison Richardson captured two RBI.
The team returned to Region 1-5A action yesterday against Pontotoc and will close out the series at 6:30 p.m. today at Pontotoc.
In baseball, the Cavs ended a four-game slide with a 6-5 win over Pontotoc that split the season series.
With the game tied at 5-5 in the seventh inning, Aaron Harris singled to bring home Blakes Bates for the game winner for Caledonia, who were outhit 8-4. Reid Garrett delivered a complete game and gave up five earned runs and struck out six for the team’s first district win of the year.
Up next, Caledonia (7-8, 1-1) battles Columbus at 7 p.m today on the road.
Starkville
Starkville’s softball team participated in the Battle in Batesville tournament on Saturday and split two games.
In the first game the Yellow Jackets bested Lake Cormorant, 6-4, thanks to three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning that quashed a 4-3 deficit. Leigh Parker Morgan led the team with two hits and five others had one hit each. Emma Prewitt went the distance in the circle and gave up seven hits and all four runs.
Despite giving up six runs to St. Benedict at Auburndale in the first inning, Starkville rallied late to tie the game 8-8 in the fourth inning, but fell 9-8 as the Eagles broke the tie with a run in the fifth to move the Jackets to 6-10 on the season.
Starkville is back in region play at 6:30 p.m today at Germantown.
Starkville Academy
The Vols’ baseball team grabbed its second win in a row on Thursday with a 4-0 victory at Pillow Academy.
The Vols (13-4) got two runs in the fourth and one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings for the victory. Blake Little led the team with two hits and an RBI, and pitchers Brody Burkley and Jack Northcutt combined for seven strikeouts and only three hits on the mound. The team begins District 2-4A play today at 6 p.m. against visiting Heritage Academy.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
