The defending state champion CCA Lady Patriots scored nine runs in two innings to defeat the Southland Academy Lady Raiders 9-1 in five innings in their season opener in Baconton on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Patriots had three games scheduled this weekend – a Friday game against Cairo, then Saturday contests against Southland and Baconton Charter. Both the Cairo and Baconton Charter games ended up being rained out.
Brilynn Waldron led off the game with a triple. She scored the first run of the season on a fly ball by Emma Gourley. The defense misplayed the ball and Gourley wound up on second as a result. Gracie Giddens followed with a single that scored Gourley. Maddie Lewis also singled then Klair Mercer bunted and reached on an error. After a fielder’s choice by Peighton Harper, Lewis scored on a passed ball with Abrah Harris at the plate. She walked to load the bases for the second time of the inning. Cadence Cravey grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second out of the inning; however, she drove in Mercer for the fourth and final out.
In the second, Lewis drove in Waldron on a single. Mercer followed with a single that scored Gourley and Lewis. Mercer put CCA up 8-0 when she scored on a double by Harper. The Lady Patriots’ final run of the inning – and the game – came on a single by Cravey that scored Harper.
CCA gave up one run to Southland in the bottom of the fourth. Leading 9-1 in the fifth, the Lady Patriots retired three in a row after giving up a leadoff double to end the game via run rule.
Waldron, Lewis, Mercer, and Cravey each had two hits. Waldron, Gourley, Lewis, and Mercer also scored two apiece. Mercer and Cravey drove in a pair as well.
While the offense was doing its work, Harper held things together on the mound. She threw a 93-pitch complete game, giving up one unearned run on four hits. She struck out three and walked three.
The Lady Patriots are back in Douglas on Tuesday for their home opener against Terrell Academy at 4 p.m. On Friday, they play Wayne County at 4:30 p.m., also at home. Then they’re off nearly a week before they face Fullington on Thursday, August 14.