MA cruises to first in tourney

The Marshall Academy softball team capped off an unbeaten week with an Indianola Tournament championship.

The Lady Pats stormed through the Saturday tourney, outscoring its five opponents 40-3.

“Overall, it was a strong weekend,” coach Carlton Gibson said. “We still have some work to do on our pitching. Our defense is strong.”

The Lady Patriots opened last week’s play with 12-1 rout of district foe North Delta.

The Lady Patriots jumped in front 4-0 in the top of the first August 4 at Batesville, and then put them away with a big eightrun fifth inning.

Christa Schultz had three hits, a triple and two doubles. She drove in five runs.

Anna Lauren Bain had a pair of RBIs.

Carlie Vannucci pitched all five innings for the win. She gave up only one hit, struck out one and walked none.

On Thursday, the Lady Patriots built a four-run lead over the visitors from Leake and then held on for a thrilling 7-6 win.

MA scored four in the bottom of the second to go ahead 5-2 and added one in the fourth for a 6-2 advantage.

Leake cut its deficit to 6-5 in the top of the sixth. The Lady Pats scored one in the bottom of that inning to lead 7-5.

The Lady Rebels managed to get one runner home in the top of the seventh before Marshall pitcher Hallie Turner closed the door.

Turner tossed a complete seven-inning contest. She gave up nine hits, struck out five and walked one.

The MA offense produced 12 hits on the afternoon. C. Vannucci had three hits and three RBIs. Rayne Rippee had three hits and an RBI. Schultz connected for a big double, and she drove in three runs in the big win.

Getting two hits each were Tyler Vannucci and Kylie Gurley.

Indianola Tournament Marshall scored all eight of its runs in the bottom of the fourth as it blanked Winona Christian 8-0 Saturday to start play in the Indianola Tournament. Kamdyn Taylor tripled to get the run production started and later singled in the big inning. The MA bats connected for eight hits. Taylor’s three led the way, and she had two RBIs. Schultz added a pair of hits and two RBIs. C. Vannucci threw a no-hitter. She struck out two and walked one. The Lady Pats earned another shutout in game two of the tourney, 12-0 over Briarfield Academy (La.). Top plate performers were Schultz with two doubles and three RBIs, C. Vannucci with two singles and two RBIs and Taylor with a double, a single and an RBI.

Marshall scored one run in the top of the first, six in the second and five in the fourth.

Turner took control from the circle. She gave up just one hit and fanned eight.

The Lady Patriots then handed Briarfield another loss, this one a 5-1 final.

Getting two hits and an RBI each for MA were C. Vannucci, R. Rippee and Schultz. Turner drove in a pair of runs with a double. Anna Lauren Bain also added a double.

Marshall had eight hits in the win and scored three of its five runs in the bottom of the second.

Turner was the winning pitcher. She gave up three hits, struck out eight and walked two.

MA kept on clicking with a 6-2 victory over Washington School in its next tourney contest.

Each team had seven hits but the Lady Pats were more productive run-wise.

Schultz blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the first to get the offense rolling. Gurley hit a solo shot in the bottom of the third. R. Rippee also had an RBI.

C. Vannucci pitched the win. She struck out two and walked two.

The MA girls then completed their perfect run through the tournament in the Delta with a 9-0 rout of Pillow Academy.

The lead was a narrow one, 2-0, going to the fourth. That’s when the Lady Pats erupted for seven runs to secure the championship. C. Vannucci, Gurley and Turner all had key hits in the big fourth.

The Lady Patriots produced eight hits in the win. Leading the way was C. Vannucci with three hits and an RBI. Gurley drove in a pair of runs. Turner had a pair of hits.

Turner, in five innings of work from the circle, limited the Lady Mustangs to three hits. She struck out two and walked two.

Coach Gibson said the team is making solid strides in the early season.

“Kamdyn (Taylor) stepped up and made the most of her opportunities,” he said. “She is going to be a big addition to our team. Carlie (Vannucci), Christa (Schultz), Kylie (Gurley) and Rayne (Rippee) are hitting really well. If they keep this up, we will go a long way.” The Lady Pats (9-2) played

Pillow at home Monday and visited Lee Tuesday for a District 1-3A contest. They travel to Tunica Thursday and then play in the Tri-County Tournament Saturday, Aug. 15. Next Monday, Aug. 17, they host Kirk in district action, and they will play Oak Hill Tuesday, Aug. 18, at Northeast Community College.