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Marshall’s Evelyn Greer (4) slides safely into second base in the victory over Starkville Academy.

Lady Patriots district champs

The Marshall Academy softball team put a first-place stamp on its district dominance last week.

The Lady Patriots blasted Lee Academy 10-2 at home and wrapped up the District 1-3A crown with a 6-0 mark.

“It’s great to win another district championship, but that’s not the championship we are looking for,” head coach Carlton Gibson said.

The North State Tournament, hosted by North Delta School in Batesville, will be Saturday, Sept. 26, and Monday, Sept. 28. The State Tournament follows Saturday, Oct. 3, and Monday, Oct. 5, at the Magee Sports Complex.

MA had 10 hits in its eightrun victory over Lee Monday, Sept. 14, at home.

Leading the way were Hallie Turner and Landry Loper with two hits each. Kylie Gurley had a double and three RBIs in the win and Christa Schultz a double.

MA scored four of its runs in the bottom of the third. Zoey Rippee hit a big triple in that inning.

Hallie Turner pitched five innings and got the win. She gave up two hits, struck out nine and walked four. In two innings of relief, Carlie Vannucci gave up five hits, struck out four and walked two.

The next day, Sept. 15, Marshall Academy softball honored its five seniors, Tyler Vannucci, Rayne Rippee, X’Zorria Jones Kylie Gurley and Anna Lauren Bain, and blasted Starkville Academy 15-0.

“Senior Night was great,” Gibson said. “We have a great group, and they are going to leave some really big shoes to fill.”

The Lady Patriots put the game away early, scoring 11 runs in the bottom of the first.

H. Turner had a triple and a single in the first, while R. Rippee had a double and single. Others getting in on the first-inning hit parade were C. Vannucci, Z. Rippee, Bain, T. Vannucci and Gurley.

R. Rippee finished with three hits, two of those doubles, and three RBIs. Gurley had two hits and four RBIs, Turner two hits and two RBIs, and C. Vannucci two hits. Schultz had a hit and three RBIs. One of Turner’s hits was a triple.

C. Vannucci got the win in the shortened game due to the run rule. In three innings of work, she gave up only one hit, struck out four and walked none.

The MA girls then dropped a 12-4 decision at home on Wednesday of last week to Magnolia Heights.

The Lady Patriots committed three errors.

“Errors cost us,” Gibson said. “We made them at critical times that allowed runs to score. We outhit them nine to eight but didn’t play good enough on defense.”

Marshall fell behind 3-0 in the first and then bounced back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. R. Rippee ripped a home run over the center field fence, also scoring C. Vannucci who had singled.

The Lady Chiefs secured the win with an eight-run fifth.

MA left 10 runners on base. In addition to R. Rippee’s two-run homer, Loper’s two hits and one RBI led the Lady Patriot offense. One of Loper’s hits was a double. Turner took the pitching loss. In seven innings, she gave up eight hits, struck out four and walked seven. Marshall (21-8 overall) visits Magnolia Heights on Wednesday of this week to conclude the regular season.

Holly Springs South Reporter

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