By Staff
E.A.'s Lady Cougars traveled to South Montgomery County Academy last Friday afternoon to take on the Lady Raiders.
An illness caused Coach Lassiter to look over his remaining pitchers, as senior Lauren Lyles, undefeated in five starts with near perfect control, could not make the trip. It was time for the team to step up.
S.M.C.A. who had already defeated area foe, Crenshaw Christian Academy earlier in the week, is expected to be E.A.'s toughest area opponent. The Lady Raiders jumped out to a 1-0 lead scoring one unearned run in the first inning on two hits and one error. The defensive combination of Meagan Jackson to Kristen Lyles, which cut down S.M.C.A.'s Wyatt at the plate to record the second out, would prevent E.A. from going down two to zip.
Lori Bonds would get out of the first inning jam by the same combination. But this time Kristen would fire a strike to Meagan covering third to nail S.M.C.A.'s Cantey trying to steal. At the end of one, the Lady Raiders led one to nothing.
In the top of the second, E.A. would score two unearned runs without the benefit of a hit. Shelby Moore and Jaime Drew would cross the plate to give E.A. a two to one edge. In the third, Lori would walk, move to second on Kristen's single, and score when Jennifer Martin slammed a run-rule double down the left field line. E.A. led 3-l at the end of four. In the fifth inning, the Lady Cougars' J-Mar again would get the clutch hit.
With Kristen on first, J-Mar would triple, then score on an RBI by Jaime. In a tight ballgame, E.A. led five to one going into the top of the seventh. E. A. would then add five insurance runs. Kristen, J-Mar, Shelby, Jaime, and Mandi Norton would cross the plate as J-Mar's run scoring double, Jaime's two RBI single, and Holly Harrison's base clearing triple were the big hits of the inning.
The Lady Cougars would sit the last three Lady Raiders down in order to win by a 10-1 margin. Their record now stands at 7-0, 3-0 in the area.
In her first varsity start on the mound, Lori Bonds would allow one run (none earned), scatter five hits, walk two and strike out two Lady Raiders. She would retire in order the last nine batters she faced. She did this behind a defense that after an early first inr?ing error, played flawless the rest of the game. Every position on the field recorded at least one putout as S.M.C.A. sprayed the ball around.
Coach Lassiter said, "Lori stepped up and pitched a great ballgame, and the rest of the team stepped up their play to play a great defensive game."
Jennifer Martin's three extra base hits led all batters in the game. J-Mar also extended her hitting streak to four games. S.M.C.A.'s Moore, Wyatt, Henley, May, and Bozeman all recorded one hit each. Wyatt took the loss on the mound.
The Lady Cougars' next opponent is Faith Academy's Lady Rams at 4:30 Thursday in Mobile. They will face the Lady Raiders again Friday at 3:00 at home.