Marshall girls going to North AA Tournament


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Marshall girls going to North AA Tournament

Photo by Jane Ann Autry

Marshall’s Chelsey Gilliam was honored recently on “Senior Day” with framed artwork by Mary Clay Brooks that was signed by all of her teammates. In back are Gilliam’s parents, Jimbo and Mary Beth.

The Marshall Academy Lady Patriots will enter the North AA Fast-Pitch Softball Tournament this Saturday at Carrollton.

They wrapped up the regular season Tuesday of this week – playing at North Delta with the winner taking first in District 1-AA and the loser second.

Last week MA dominated district foe Indianola Academy and then beat Class AA Magnolia Heights to improve to 23-7 on the season.

MA 10 IA 3

Darcie Gibson got the start Monday of last week at home and began the game with two three-up, three-down innings.

MA didn’t score in the first but got the bats going in the second. Caitlyn Brooks got on by catcher’s interference, and then Hailey McMinn sacrificed to move her over. Hannah Pasco singled to score Brooks, and Alexis McGreger reached on an error, scoring Pasco.

In the top of the third, IA was able to push three runs across on two hits and three errors to take the lead.

After a pep talk by coach Marcus Moore, the MA bats fired up to score four runs in the third. Maura Autry and Chelsey Gilliam each singled, and Elizabeth Skelton reached on an error. Gibson walked and Pasco got a double to round out the scoring drive.

Gibson shut the Indianola offense down in the fourth and fifth.

MA scored four more runs off hits by Kat Moore, Brooks, McMinn, McGreger and Pasco, who got her third hit of the day.

Gibson pitched a complete, five-inning game, giving up three walks and two hits and recording five strikeouts.

“We told the girls before the game that every game from this point on is important and they stepped up and made it happen,” Coach Moore said. “This win was just one more step toward a district championship.”

MA 9 Mag. Hts. 8

Magnolia came to town on Tuesday of last week and brought their bats with them.

“If you were just looking at stats you would think MH won this game, but we showed a lot of heart and found a way to win this one for our senior leader (Gilliam) on senior night,” Coach Moore said.

Gibson got the start and pitched two innings, giving up six hits, one walk and four runs. In the first inning the Lady Chiefs scored one run. MA came back and matched that run when Autry singled and was able to score on passed balls.

In the top of the second, Magnolia Heights scored three off one walk and three hits.

In the top of the third, McGreger went to the circle and the visitors failed to score.

The MA offense decided to wake up in the third and scored seven runs. Gibson led off with a walk; McGreger reached on a error; Moore was hit by a pitch; Autry reached on an error, scoring Gibson; McGreger tried to score but was thrown out at the plate; and Gilliam walked, loading the bases again. Then Skelton walked, scoring Moore; Pasco reached on an error, scoring Autry; Brooks came to the plate with the bases loaded and blasted a triple over the right fielder’s head, clearing the bases; Gibson returned to the plate and hit a single down the third base line to score Chloe Barrier (substitute for Brooks). MA led 8-4.

The Lady Chiefs’ bats came to life in the fifth. After four hits in a row, Skelton came to the circle with a runner on third and Marshall was up by one. She struck out the first batter, then got a ground ball hit back to her and looked the runner back and then threw to McGreger, covering first on a bunt, for the second out. She hit the next batter to put runners at first and third with two outs. One scored on a hit, but she got a pop-up to Autry at shortstop to end the inning.

With the game tied, MA needed to score one to win.

Skelton walked but was thrown out trying to steal second. Pasco doubled to center, and later scored when McMinn stepped into the batter’s box and hit a game-winning single to right field.

“This is the first time in my eight years of coaching at MA that we swept Magnolia and it was sweet,” coach Carlton Gibson said. “It is nice to see these younger players stepping up under pressure and getting the job done.”

The top four teams from this weekend’s North AA Tournament will move on to the State Tournament to be held in the Jackson area October 1 and October 3.

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