A new season has begun, and the results feature extremes.
Jumping out of the new season’s gate with a 4-3 record, the Indianola Academy Lady Colonels fastpitch softball team initially tasted some early success with four consecutive victories.
The pendulum then went the opposite direction as those wins were followed by three losses; two of which were lost by one run apiece.
However, while currently experiencing a couple of days off from live action to catch their breath, a heavy dose of competition will quickly resume.
For this Saturday the IA squad will host a 12 team, daylong tournament to be played at Chism Park (see related story); a bevy of games which begins for the Lady Colonels at 9 a.m. against Pillow Academy of Greenwood.
This will be followed by a 10:25 a.m. IA clash with Sharkey-Issaquena Academy of Rolling Fork.
Subsequent IA action this day is dependent on the outcome of this initial pair of games.
Additional softball play resumes next week for Head Coach Patrick Davis’ squad with a Monday trip to Washington School in Greenville. Meanwhile, Tuesday brings a visit to Deer Creek School in Arcola. First pitch for both games is slated to be thrown at 6 p.m.
In their past week of play, the Lady Colonels opened their season with four consecutive wins before suffering a 9-8 title game loss to a strong Central Holmes Christian School squad last Saturday. This loss left IA in the runnerup position of the Winona Christian School Tournament.
Meanwhile, in their most recent action Tuesday night in Arcola, the Lady Colonels dropped a 6-5 decision to Deer Creek School.
With the game ending following a walk-off RBI single by the Lady Warriors, the Lady Colonels squandered a nine hit attack which was led by Lily Putnam (double, two singles, two RBIs), Mattie Beth Williamson (2 doubles), and Mary Grace Beckham (double, single).
Jillian Roberts also delivered a solo home run on the third pitch of the game; a blast which cleared the left field fence.
In the pitcher’s circle, Katie Ann Page scattered seven hits while fanning two with no base on balls.
One night earlier at Heritage Academy in Columbus, the IA squad faced the Lady Patriots for the third time in four days.
After seeing IA win the first two meetings between these two teams, Heritage Academy had the upper hand in round three as it claimed the game by a 14-6 margin.
Falling prey to hot Heritage Academy bats, the Lady Patriots hammered 15 hits in this game, and plagued by errors, the Lady Colonels saw a 9-2 first inning deficit too large to overcome.
Leading the hitting for IA in this contest was Mallory Price, who drilled a pair of doubles and a single to drive two runs across the plate.
Meanwhile, a pair of singles apiece were earned in this contest by Lily Putnam, Gracie Sligh, and Allie Snell.
Jillian Roberts and Mattie Beth Williamson also added a double apiece to the IA offensive efforts.
As for last Saturday’s tournament action in Winona, the IA squad opened their tournament play with victories over the host Winona Christian School team (5-3), Carroll Academy (4-2), and Heritage Academy (14-3) before falling in the championship game.
Leading the hitting for the Lady Colonels in this collection of games were Roberts (7-for-9, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 RBIs),Williamson (5-for-9, double), Putnam (4-for-7, double, 4 RBIs), and Mary Grace Bekham (3-for-5, double, 5 RBIs).
In the pitcher’s circle both Page and Roberts picked up victories as they combined to limit opponents to 14 hits through the first three games of the tournament.
The Lady Colonels also opened their season last Friday on their home turf with a 7-2 decision over Heritage Academy.
While Page picked up the pitching win after limiting the Lady Patriots to four hits, the senior righthander also struck out three batters and only issued one base on balls.
At the plate, IA hitters erupted for six hits and six runs in the fourth inning to put the game away.
Williamson paced this attack by clearing the loaded bases with a triple, a blast which accompanied her single earned in the game.
The rally continued two batters later when Putnam sent an RBI triple over the left fielder’s head and Beckham then followed with an RBI single.
