The CCA Lady Patriots held their own against the 2024 GHSA Class 4A state runner-up Wayne County Lady Yellow Jackets for four innings on Friday. Then the fifth inning rolled around and that’s when the wheels came off. Wayne County left Patriot Field with an 11-5 win, dropping the Lady Patriots to 2-1 on the season.
Wayne County score a run in the first and held a 1-0 lead for an inning. In the bottom of the second, CCA scored three runs to take a 3-1 advantage. An error scored two runs then a sacrifice fly plated the third run of the inning. The two teams traded runs in the fourth, giving the Lady Patriots a 4-2 lead.
The fifth inning, however, was a different story altogether. The Lady Yellow Jackets scored seven runs on five hits, two errors, and a walk to pull ahead 9-4. One of those hits was a lead-off home run by Kallie Scott. CCA scored its final run of the game in the sixth when Emma Gourley singled and scored Brilynn Waldron. Wayne County added two in the seventh to increase its lead to 11-5. The Lady Patriots were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh.
Gourley was 3-3 with three RBI. Abrah Harris had two hits and scored a run. Waldron had one hit, scored one run, and drove in two.
CCA used two pitchers on the day. Peighton Harper went four innings, giving up four runs (all earned) on eight hits. She struck out one and walked one. Gracie Giddens came in and threw the final three innings, giving up seven runs (two earned) on three hits. She didn’t record a strikeout and walked one.
The Lady Patriots are 2-1 on the season have nearly a week off before they travel to Fullington Academy next Thursday.