The CCA Lady Patriots had a mixed bag this week. On the one hand, they lost their first game since August 16, a showdown against GHSA Class 4A power Wayne County in Jesup on Tuesday. Then they rebounded and run-ruled Tiftarea in six innings in Chula Thursday afternoon.
CCA played Wayne County closely until the bottom of the fourth inning, when the Yellow Jackets put up seven runs that effectively ended the Lady Patriots’ hopes. CCA was trailing 3-0 going into the fourth inning. With two outs in the fourth, Abrah Harris singled, driving in Emma Gourley. When the inning ended, the Lady Patriots were still down but their deficit was a manageable two runs.
Unfortunately, that didn’t last. Wayne County erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 10-1 lead. In the top of the fifth, Klair Mercer singled but that’s as much of a rally as the Lady Patriots could muster. The mercy rule kicked in and Wayne County came away with a 10-2, five-inning win.
Gourley, Harris, and Mercer had the only hits for CCA. Peighton Harper and Gracie Giddens handled the pitching duties. Harper took the loss with 3 2/3 innings of work. Giddens got the final out for the Lady Patriots.
Things returned to normal on Thursday when the Lady Patriots traveled to Chula to face Tiftarea. CCA was up 4-1 when, in the top of the sixth, they took a page out of Wayne County’s book and blew the game open with a seven-run inning. With one out, Brilynn Waldron bunted. An error allowed Waldron to reach base and scored Arabelle Roberts, who singled earlier in the inning. A couple of batters later, Mattie Lewis singled in Waldron. Cadence Cravey scored on an errant throw, giving CCA a 7-1 lead. Harris followed with a two-RBI single to put the Lady Patriots up 9-1. Giddens scored Harris on a double and later scored on a passed ball to extend CCA’s advantage to 11-1.
Tiftarea didn’t do anything in the bottom of the sixth. The leadoff batter singled but didn’t really go anywhere. The Lady Patriots turned a double play on a grounder to short to end the inning and the game via run rule.
Gourley led the way offensively, going 3-4 with three runs and two RBI. Cravey scored three times and Harris drove in three. Gourley doubled twice and Giddens doubled once.
The duo of Giddens and Harper took the mound again, this time with Giddens starting and earning the win. Giddens went four innings while Harper went two.
CCA returns to action Monday afternoon at Terrell Academy. They return home on Tuesday to face Robert Toombs Christian Academy at 4:30. The Lady Patriots are 16-4 on the season.