Tuesday marked the beginning of region games for softball and baseball teams across the area with some squads starting off on the right foot while others were dealt some narrow losses. Starkville’s baseball team found just enough offense to begin conference games with a win while both of New Hope’s teams were dealt losses in extra innings.
Starkville
After sprinkling in a few conference games in the early-season slate, Starkville’s baseball team got its full Region 2-7A season underway Tuesday with a narrow 5-4 win over visiting Germantown.
Thanks to one run in the second inning and three in the fourth, the Yellow Jackets built up a 4-0 lead midway through the contest, but the Mavericks answered with two runs of their own in the sixth to cut their deficit in half. Starkville managed to plate one more in the bottom of the sixth and held Germantown to just two runs in the seventh for the victory that moved the team to 10-6-1 overall and 2-1 in region games.
The two teams will battle once more in the series at 7 p.m. Friday in Madison.
Starkville’s softball didn’t have as much luck in its region opener against visiting Madison Central and was held hitless in a 10-0 defeat that lasted five innings.
Jaguar pitcher Sophia Phyfer delivered the no-hitter from the circle through all five innings and fanned eight and walked two Jackets as her team’s offense racked up seven hits and six RBI. Madison Central scored three runs in the third and followed up with four in the fourth and three in the fifth.
The Jackets (5-8, 0-1) have a chance to bounce back at 6:30 p.m. today at Clinton.
Columbus
The Falcons’ hopes at ending their winless start to the baseball season were dashed Tuesday in West Point as the Green Wave cruised to a 13-1, 5-inning win in both teams’ Region 1-5A opener.
West Point scored early and often, plating four runs in the first inning, three in the second, one in the third and five more in the fifth. West Point’s Dawson Tyler had two hits and two of his team’s six RBI, and Quenshawn Posely also added two more runs and scored two runs.
Columbus, which was outhit 8-3, got its only run across home plate in the third inning. Xzavier Roberson proved to be mighty from the mound for the Green Wave (6-10, 1-5) and went the distance as he fanned five and walked two.
The Falcons (0-10, 0-1) look to find a way into the win column Friday against the Green Wave once more at 7 p.m Friday in Columbus.
In softball, the Falcons (1-7, 0-1) also met their match to begin region play and fell 17-0 to Caledonia (11-1, 1-0).
Both teams wrap up the series at 6:05 p.m. today in Caledonia.
New Hope
The Trojan’s baseball team took Lafayette to extra innings on Tuesday to begin Region 1-5A play but couldn’t bust through in a 5-4 loss.
New Hope erupted for four runs in the fourth inning, but the Commodores, which had scored two runs earlier in the third, plated two more in the fifth to tie the game. Neither team managed to score in the final two innings to force the extra innings, where Lafayette found the room to score the game-winning run. The Commodores held a slight hitting advantage at 6-5 and overcame three errors to get the win.
New Hope (8-8, 0-1) plays at Lafayette at 7 p.m Friday. as it tries to settle the score.
Just like in baseball, New Hope’s softball team took host Lafayette the distance in a contest with much more offense but still fell, 17-15, in extra innings.
The Trojans broke through an 8-7 hole in the sixth inning with two runs for a short-lived lead that was consumed by the Commodores three runs in the bottom of the sixth to go back on top 11-9.
With its back against the wall, Caledonia rattled off two runs in the seventh to force extra playing time and then plated four more runs in the eighth inning to go ahead. Lafayette responded with six runs to clinch the victory.
Lexi McBrayer led the team with three hits, four runs and an RBI and Kaselyn Harcrow had two hits – a double and a home run – and four RBI. Tatum McBride had two hits and an RBI, and Harper Minton delivered one hit and three RBI.
The Trojans (8-8, 0-1) host Lafayette today at 6:30 p.m. in a rematch.
Caledonia
The Cavs’ streak of three straight losses slipped into Region 1-5A play on Tuesday as they lost their fourth straight, 6-1 at Pontotoc.
Caledonia (6-8, 0-1) struck first with a run in the first inning but its bats fell silent as the Warriors notched one run in the second inning, four in the fifth and one more in the sixth. The Cavs were held to just one hit by Cooper Shelnut while the Warriors piled on seven. Garrett Holloman pitched the first inning and gave up an earned run with one walk and one strikeout and Aaron Harris closed the game. He relinquished five runs (two earned) but struck out seven and walked one.
The Cavs will try to flip the script at 7 p.m. today when they host Pontotoc.
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