Lady Patriots blank four opponents

Marshall Academy won four of six games last week, outscoring its opponents 39-0 in the victories.

They blanked Pillow, Lee, Tunica and Central Hinds. The losses came at the hands of Hartfield and Brookhaven.

Coach Carlton Gibson’s Lady Patriots saw their season record go to 13-4.

“Our pitching has to be more consistent, and we need to learn to be more patient at the plate,” he said.

“Our base-running was not very good over the weekend (at the Tri-County Tournament).

“Rayne (Rippee), Christa (Schultz) and Carlie (Vannucci) are really focused at the plate. They are getting big hits.

“Our young players need to grow up quickly.”

Pillow Academy’s visit to Holly Springs was a short one Monday, Aug. 10, as the Lady Patriots won at home 13-0 in just three and a half innings due to the run rule.

MA scored all of its runs in the bottom of the first, sending 18 batters to the plate.

R. Rippee hit two home runs in the opening inning, both two-run shots. Kylie Gurley added a three-run homer.

The Lady Patriots had 13 hits, with R. Rippee, Schultz, Tyler Vannucci, Hallie Turner and Anna Lauren Bain getting two each.

C. Vannucci picked up the win from the circle. She gave up three hits, struck out seven and walked two.

On Tuesday of last week at Clarksdale, Turner tossed a no-hitter, striking out 13, in an 11-0 victory over Lee. She walked just one in five innings of work.

Marshall had 10 hits. C. Vannucci carried the biggest bat. She had three hits and drove in four runs. Adding a couple of hits each were Schultz and Gurley.

MA, in the District 1-3A victory, scored eight runs in the top of the second, two in the third and one more in the fourth.

Next up, the Lady Patriots traveled to Tunica Thursday and knocked off the Lady Blue Devils 8-0.

C. Vannucci and Turner had big afternoons from the batter’s box. C. Vannucci had three hits and two runs-battedin, while Turner had two hits and three RBIs.

Landry Loper also picked up a pair of hits in the Marshall’s 10-hit attack.

C. Vannucci was the winning pitcher. She gave up six hits, struck out three and walked three in seven innings.

Tri-County Tournament A late rally wasn’t enough in the Lady Patriots’ opener at the Tri-County Tournament Saturday. They fell behind 6-0, scored five in the bottom of the fourth and lost 6-5 to Class 5A Hartfield Academy. Schultz had three of MA’s eight hits. C. Vannucci had two hits. R. Rippee blasted a tworun homer in the fourth. Turner took the loss from the circle. She gave up five hits, struck out three and walked one. The Marshall girls bounced back in their second game of the tourney to down Central Hinds Academy 7-0.

C. Vannucci threw a no-hitter. She struck out two and walked one.

The Lady Pats scored one in the top of the first, three in the second and three in the third.

MA had just four hits in the win. Schultz led the way with two hits and three RBIs.

Marshall concluded the one-day tournament with a 6-1 loss to Brookhaven Academy.

Turner singled in the top of the first and drove in the Lady Patriots’ only run. R. Rippee had the only other hit.

Both Turner and C. Vannucci pitched for MA. Brookhaven had six hits.

Schedule The Lady Patriots visited Kirk Academy on Monday for a district contest. They faced Oak Hill Tuesday at Northeast Community College. They go to Leake Academy Thursday and then play in the Bayou Tournament Saturday. Next Tuesday, Aug. 25, they host North Delta in district action.