‘Great season’ ends for MA


Thursday, 6, 2011
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‘Great season’ ends for MA

Photo by Barry Burleson

Elizabeth Skelton (right) fields a bunt and tosses the ball to Kat Moore Saturday in the Class AA State Fast-Pitch Tournament. The Silliman runner slid and was called safe on the play.

The state championship run for the young Marshall Academy team was short lived.

The Lady Patriots, seeded fourth from the North, made the trip to Liberty Park in Flowood to face the number one team from the South in the opening round of the Class AA bracket.

The Lady Patriots could not get the offense going Saturday morning versus Silliman Institute and lost the contest 11-3.

The only hits of the game came from freshman catcher Kat Moore, who got two. Hannah Pasco and Alexis McGreger each had a hit.

The defense let the nerves get the best of them, according to coach Carlton Gibson.

Darcie Gibson got the start in the circle.

“She pitched as well as we expected,” Coach Gibson said.

She only issued two walks, but gave up 10 hits to a much older Silliman team.

Photos by Jane Ann Autry

The Lady Patriots huddle before their second game Saturday for their “We Are Marshall” chant.

“This game was a good learning experience for the team,” Coach Gibson said.

In the next game played Saturday afternoon, MA went up 4-0 in the first inning but couldn’t hang on – losing 15-4.

“The second game against Sylva-Bay Academy was one that we could have won,” Coach Gibson said.

The offense was again powered by Moore, who went two for three from the plate. Maura Autry also got a hit.

In the third inning, Coach Gibson said the Lady Patriots fell apart. They committed five errors. Sylva-Bay sent 17 batters to the plate and produced eight hits and 12 runs in the inning.

Gibson pitched three innings, giving up 10 hits and one walk. Elizabeth Skelton pitched the fourth inning, giving up three hits and walking three.

“It was a little disappointing not to win a game, but then we had to realize that we were not expected to even be in the state playoffs,” Coach Gibson said. “We are so proud of the girls. They had a great season and surpassed our expectations.”

The MA roster includes one senior, no juniors, two sophomores, three freshmen, one eighth grader, three seventh graders and two sixth graders.

“We are excited about the future of Marshall softball,” Coach Gibson said. “We have one big hole to fill when we lose our senior first baseman, Chelsey Gilliam; she will be missed. The rest of the team will remain intact and we expect great things from them in the next couple of years.”

MA finished the 2011 season with a 24-12 record.

Elizabeth Skelton (right) goes for the tag on a Sylva-Bay runner. In back is teammate Chelsey Gilliam.

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