|
Click here to listen to this article!
|
The Monroe Academy Lady Volunteers edged the Jackson Academy Lady Eagles on Thursday 11-10 in Monroeville. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Lady Eagles.
This game was back and forth for all seven innings. The two teams combined for 21 runs and 24 hits. The game was tied at two different times and featured three lead changes. Each team’s starter in the circle pitched a complete game.
The Lady Eagles started off in the first inning with two walks, followed by a double by Lauren Coaker. JA took an early 2-0 lead. Bethany Clayton followed with a run scoring single. The Lady Eagles had the early 3-0 lead.
Monroe Academy tied the game in the bottom of the first inning. The Lady Volunteers added two more runs in the bottom of the second inning. The Lady Eagles retook the lead in the top of the third. Madeline Dailey started things off with a single to right field. Lily Jones followed with a double to left field. Dailey pulled off a successful steal of home to cut the Monroe lead to one. Clayton doubled to left field, scoring Tessa Elmore and Lauren Coaker. JA took the lead 6- 5. Mikalah Dougherty followed with a single putting runers at 1st and 3rd. A RBI ground out by Olivia Garris scored Clayton from third. The Lady Eagles added another run on an error. JA was now leading 8-5.
Monroe scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth and took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs, to take an 11-8.
The Lady Eagles were not going to quit. They fought to the very end. The Lady Volunteers got two quick outs in the top of the seventh. Mikalah Dougherty doubled with a runner at first, putting runners at 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Olivia Garris singled, allowing pinch runner Tessa Elmore to score from third. Liz Baugh followed with a single to left field, scoring Daugherty. A strikeout ended the comeback threat and the game.
The loss dropped the Lady Eagles’ record to 4-8 on the season. JA returns to action on Monday hosting Snook Christian Academy in Jackson. They then traveled to Foley on Tuesday for a rematch with Snook.
Coach Janeah Finney said after the game, “We showed great strides mentally throughout the game Thursday. We didn’t let the intensity of the game get the best of us. We battled when we were up and when we were down. I liked seeing us compete a little more. That’s something I think will benefit us going into next week and into region play.”
Leave a Reply