MA girls go 3-2 in tourney

The Marshall Academy Lady Patriots won three of five Saturday in the Indianola Academy Tournament.

Coach Carlton Gibson’s softball squad evened its early-season record at 4-4. “We have to learn to finish,” he said. “We need to stay focused the entire game.

“We’re still working on discipline at the plate.

“Hallie (Turner) and Carlie (Vannucci) pitched well.” MA opened the one-day event with a 1-0 loss to Washington School.

The Lady Generals, who had just three hits, scored their only run in the top of the first.

The Lady Patriots had five hits. Getting one each were Rayne Rippee, Kylie Gurley, C. Vannucci, Anna Lauren Bain and Zoey Rippee.

Marshall left six runners on base in the loss.

C. Vannucci threw all four innings. She struck out six and walked one.

The Lady Pats rebounded in game two. They routed Winona Christian 10-0.

The bats got hot as Marshall connected for 14 hits.

R. Rippee had three hits and a run-batted-in, Bain two hits and two RBIs, C. Vannucci two hits and a RBI. Also getting two hits each were Avery Neal and Turner. Z. Rippee had one hit and two RBIs, Abby Bell a hit and one RBI and Tyler Vannucci one hit.

MA’s big inning was the fifth when it scored five runs.

Turner earned the victory from the circle. She struck out seven, gave up just two hits and walked only one.

The offense kept clicking in game three of the tourney. The Lady Patriots’ bats produced 15 hits in a dominant 15-0 win over the host school, Indianola Academy.

C. Vannucci led the way with three hits and three RBIs. Z. Rippee had two hits and three RBIs and Bell two hits and two RBIs. Also adding two hits each were R. Rippee, Gurley and Bain. R. Rippee also knocked in a run. Turner and T. Vannucci each had a hit and two RBIs.

Bain, R. Rippee, Z. Rippee and C. Vannucci each had a triple.

MA scored nine of its 15 runs in a huge bottom of the third.

C. Vannucci tossed a no-hitter and recorded the win from the circle. She struck out five.

The Lady Patriots turned in another solid performace in game four of the tournament, knocking off Lee Academy (Clarksdale) 6-1.

MA outhit the opposition eight to four.

Several Lady Patriots contributed hits, led by C. Vannucci with two doubles and an RBI. Getting one hit and one RBI each were Gurley, Turner, T. Vannucci and Bell. Turner’s hit was a triple. Also adding a hit each in the five-run win were Z. Rippee and Neal.

Marshall scored one run in the second, three in the third and two in the fourth.

Turner was the winning pitcher. She struck out 10 and walked only one.

MA then closed the tourney with a 4-2 loss to Briarfield (La.) Academy.

The Lady Patriots had more hits, six to four, but couldn’t get the runners home. They left seven stranded.

Z. Rippee connected for two hits and an RBI and R. Rippee had a pair of hits. T. Vannucci and Bain each had a hit.

C. Vannucci pitched all four innings. She struck out six and did not walk a batter.

The Lady Patriots hosted North Delta on Tuesday of this week. They will host a tournament this Saturday.

Next Tuesday, Aug. 13, they will host Lee Academy at 5 p.m.

On Thursday, Aug. 15, they travel to Magnolia Heights.