Better late than never. That’s the way the CCA Lady Patriots approached their game against the Pinewood Christian Academy Lady Patriots in Bellville on Wednesday afternoon.
It may not have been the way their game plan was drawn up but it was certainly effective.
CCA fell behind 2-0 after Pinewood scored two in the bottom of the third. CCA peppered the Pinewood for a few hits but didn’t really threaten the scoreboard.
Until the top of the sixth.
Emma Gourley, who has done just about everything for CCA this season, led off with a single on the first pitch she saw. That brought Mattie Lewis to the plate. Lewis connected on an 0-1 pitch for a game-tying home run to left.
In the bottom of the sixth, Pinewood threatened, loading the bases with two outs. A groundout to second baseman Allie Veal ended the rally and the inning.
Arabelle Roberts led off the top of the seventh with a single then stole second. Brilynn Waldron followed with another single, which moved Roberts to third. Waldron moved up to second during the next at-bat without a throw from Pinewood. After a strikeout, Gourley flew out but Roberts tagged from third. She scored for the go-ahead run. A groundout ended the inning but the damage had been done. CCA held on to a tenuous 3-2 lead.
Pinewood did get a runner on via a walk in the bottom of the seventh but there was no real threat. After trailing most of the game, CCA slipped out of Bellville with a 3-2 win, their 12th of the year.
Waldron, Gourley, and Lewis had two hits. Lewis homered and doubled. Maci Rucker doubled as well. Lewis drove in two.
Shanley Meeks and Peighton Harper handled the pitching duties for CCA. Meeks went four innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Harper threw the last three innings and surrendered two hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
CCA faces Vidalia Heritage on Thursday in a region contest at Patriot Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
