On September 30th, the East Rankin Lady Patriots began their playoff run against the Cathedral Green Wave. The Patriots were reigning 5A District Champions and were looking to further their season. East Rankin was the #1 seed in their bracket while Cathedral was the #4 seed in their bracket. The Patriots’ starting pitcher was Holly Jackson.
In the top of the first inning, the Green Wave started off hot with a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a hit by pitch to have runners at first and third with 1 out. After a runner stole second, a passed ball allowed one run, and an error scored another, senior pitcher Abigail Stevens was put into pitch. Stevens struck out both batters she saw to finish the top of the first.
Holly Jackson, leading off in the bottom of the first, hit a hard line drive to center field but lined out. Hannah Jackson struck out on a changeup in the following at bat. With two outs and deep in the count, Abigail Stevens hit a one-run home run to center field to put the score to 2-1. Third baseman Krissi Joe Simmons struck out to end the inning.
To continue her dominance in the second inning, Stevens struck out the first batter she faced. The next batter however beat out a bunt. Stevens struck out the next two batters she faced.
To begin the second inning, Patriots first baseman Addison Derrick and second baseman Ella Rose Daigle grounded out to third base. In a deep count, catcher Addie Grace Weaver was able to collect a hit-by-pitch to move to first base. Senior outfielder Alyssa Holmes struck out for the third out.
During the third inning, the Green Wave began to put more runs on the board. Cathedral hit a triple and then a single to advance their lead to 3-1. Stevens then struck out the next batter to record the first out. Junior Raylin Smith made a good jump on a fly ball in right field to record a second out. Lastly, Stevens struck out the third batter.
In the bottom of the third inning, Raylin Smith got on base by a four pitch walk. Holly Jackson hit a fly out to center field to record the first out. The next batter, Hannah Jackson, hit the ball to third base and the third baseman threw the ball to second to record the second out. Abigail Stevens struck out to record the third out.
Abigail Stevens continued to excel in the top of the fourth, striking out a batter and another on a dropped third strike, while recording a pop out to first base. Outfielder Hannah Jackson also made a great catch on a ball hit near the fence in foul territory.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Patriots struggled to get the bats going. Simmons was the first out on a ground ball to third. Additionally, Addison Derrick and Ella Rose Daigle struck out and popped out to record the final outs.
Holly Jackson was swapped back in the game to pitch during the top of the fifth inning and struck out to first two batters. The Green Wave’s final batter hit a ground ball to Daigle for the third out.
The Patriots continued to stumble in the bottom of the fifth inning, with three strikeouts from Weaver, Holmes, and Smith.
In the top of the sixth, the Green Wave looked to improve their lead. The first batter for the Green Wave walked and the second hit a sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position. Despite the success, the next two batters popped out to first base and grounded out to second base.
Down 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth, the Patriots were in need of two runs to comfortably enter the seventh inning. The Patriots started off strong with a line drive and stolen base from Holly Jackson. Hannah Jackson flew out to center to record the first out. Next, Abigail Stevens was intentionally walked to second base. Krissi Joe Simmons then struck out to record the second out. On a 1-2 count with two outs, first baseman Addison Derrick hit a three run home run to right field to put the Patriots up 4-3 going into the seventh inning. Daigle grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.
In the final inning with Holly Jackson pitching, the first two batters popped out to shortstop and second base. The final batter flew out to Hannah Jackson in left field to end the game.
All in all, the Lady Patriots' performance is best contributed to the sixth inning comeback that put them in the lead 4-3. Also, the relief performances of Abigail Stevens and Holly Jackson allowed the Lady Patriots to pull away with a first round playoff victory.
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