Marshall off to strong start

The Marshall Academy Lady Patriots opened the softball season with a bang.

Coach Carlton Gibson’s squad crushed rival Magnolia Heights 15-3 on Tuesday of last week at home.

“We made a statement to start the season,” he said. “Our girls played great. It’s always great to beat Magnolia Heights.”

The Class 4A Lady Pats pounded out 13 hits versus the 5A Lady Chiefs.

“If our power hitters can continue to have quality at bats, we will be hard to beat,” Gibson said. “With all that being said, it’s just one game, and we have to stay focused.”

Marshall erupted for six runs in the bottom of the second inning and scored eight more in the third.

Christa Schultz was the star of the hitting show with three hits, including a double, and four runs-batted-in.

Natalie Shaw followed with two hits and three RBIs, while Landry Loper had a pair of hits and drove in two runs, and Meredith Anthony also contributed two hits, one of those a double.

Adding one each were Hallie Turner, Kamdyn Taylor, Zoey Rippee and Gracie Rappa.

Carlie Vannucci pitched all of the five-inning contest and earned the win. She struck out six, walked four and gave up five hits.

“Carlie had a good night in the circle,” Gibson said. “I expect our pitching to be as good as anyone this year.”

Copiah Tournament The Marshall girls continued to fare well against the bigger schools Saturday in the Copiah Tournament. They knocked off a pair of 6A foes, Hartfield Academy and Jackson Prep, before losing a close one to 5A Silliman Institute. “We played well,” Coach Gibson said. “We still have a few things to work out.”

The Lady Patriots opened the tourney, played at the Magee Sportsplex, with a 4-2 win over Hartfield.

MA went up 3-0 in the bottom of the second inning and never trailed.

Getting one hit and one RBI each were Turner, Loper, Schultz and Rappa. Shaw added a double.

Vannucci picked up the win from the circle. In five innings of work, she gave up three hits, struck out four and walked three.

Each team committed two errors.

The Lady Patriots then used a big five-run fifth inning to down Jackson Prep 7-2.

Leading a six-hit attack was Loper with two hits and two RBIs. Turner and Taylor each had a hit and an RBI, and Schultz and Charlie Johnson each added a hit. Eliza Cavender also drove in a run.

Cavender also earned the pitching win. She struck out two, walked five and gave up five hits in five innings from the circle.

“I was proud of our younger players,” Gibson said. “They played against 6A Jackson Prep and did well.”

The Lady Patriots’ rally fell short in its last game of the tournament as they lost 5-4 to Silliman The Lady Wildcats went up 5-0. MA scored four in the top of the fourth but couldn’t get over the hump.

Anthony connected for two of Marshall’s six hits. Turner, Schultz and Rappa each had a hit and an RBI. Shaw also added a hit.

Pitching for the Lady Pats were Turner, who started, and Vannucci in relief. Turner took the loss.

“The team fought when they found themselves down 5-0 against Silliman and almost pulled out a win,” Gibson said.

“These were timed games, so the clock got us. We have to compete from the beginning to win these games.”

Schedule

The Lady Patriots visited Leake Academy on Monday of this week and North Delta School Tuesday. They will host Leake Thursday at 4 p.m. And then play in the Tri-County Tournament Saturday. Next Monday, Aug. 16, they host Oak Hill at 5 p.m. And then Tuesday, Aug. 17, they host Rossville Christian, Tenn., at 5 p.m.