Lady Patriots win at Winston
Marshall Academy didn’t play its best at Louisville last week, coach Carlton Gibson said, but got out of town with the win.
“We made errors we don’t normally make, and we could not adjust at the plate,” he said.
The Lady Patriots had a big, four-run fourth to go up 61 over Winston Academy and then had to hang on in the seventh inning for the 8-4 victory.
Zoey Rippee led the MA offense. She had three hits, including a double, and two runs-batted-in.
“The one bright spot in the game was Zoey (Rippee),” Gibson said. “She was seeing the ball well.” Marshall picked up a pair of runs in the top of the first. Carlie Vannucci singled. Christa Schultz’s sacrifice fly scored pinch-runner Xzorria Jones. Z. Rippee’s single scored Kylie Gurley, who had reached on an error.
In the top of the third, Hallie Turner and Z. Rippee singled. Anna Lauren Bain bunted for an RBI. Two runs scored on a Winston error, and then Kamdyn Taylor’s ground ball scored a run to make it 6-1.
Z. Rippee led off the fifth with a double and later scored on a passed ball.
Gurley started the seventh with a single and scored on Z. Rippee’s grounder. MA was up 8-1.
The home team scored three in their half of the seventh before MA was able to close the door.
Marshall had eight hits and Winston six. Winston committed four errors and MA two.
Marshall used two pitchers. C. Vannucci threw four innings, giving up two hits, striking out two and walking four. Turner tossed three innings, giving up four hits, striking out four and walking two.
The Lady Patriots (17-5 overall and 4-0 in District 1-3A) visited Kirk Academy Tuesday for a district contest. They are scheduled to play in the Brookhaven Tournament this Saturday.
“We haven’t played a lot over the past couple of weeks, but hopefully the tournament on the 12th happens,” Gibson said.
Three home games next week are Monday versus Lee Academy, Tuesday versus Starkville Academy and Wednesday versus Magnolia Heights.