It is no secret that Indianola Academy fastpitch softball is traveling at a very rapid pace.
This steady stream of games continues today when the 6-5 Lady Colonels travel to Washington School in Greenville for a 4 p.m. non-district clash with the strong Lady Generals.
Moving forward, this pace also includes the IA squad participating in yet another Saturday tournament, a day of competition which is followed next week by a critical portion of their schedule.
For next Monday the IA squad opens its District 2-3A competition with a 6 p.m. trip to Carroll Academy in Carrollton.
Barely 24 hours will then elapse before the Lady Colonels will be found at Oak Hill Academy in West Point. Once there, Head Coach Patrick Davis’ squad will battle the Lady Raiders in another district contest.
As for this Saturday’s tournament hosted by Deer Creek School in Arcola, the Lady Colonels will initially take the field at 10:30 a.m. to take on North Sunflower Academy of Ruleville.
A return to competition will then take place at 3 p.m. when Marvell (AR) Academy will serve as the opponent.
Subsequent action this day will be dependent on the outcome of each of the IA opening contests.
In their most recent play Tuesday night, the Lady Colonels took on visiting Deer Creek School and picked up an 8-1 decision over the Lady Warriors.
Using 10 hits to help plate the runs, the IA squad’s hitting attack was led by pitcher Jillian Roberts (2 doubles and a single) and catcher Lily Putnam (double, 2 singles, 4 RBI’s).
Also driving two runs apiece across the plate with a double and single respectively were Mary Grace Beckham and Gracie Sligh.
Picking up the win in the pitcher’s circle, Roberts’ five innings of work limited the DCS hitters to six hits while striking out three and walking none.
In other play during this past Saturday’s Indianola Academy Tournament, the Lady Colonels sandwiched one win between a pair of losses.
In this 10-team tournament attended by a very large crowd of fans, the Colonels opened their play with a 6-2 loss to Pillow Academy of Greenwood.
However, the Lady Colonels returned to the field moments later and blistered Sharkey-Issaquena Academy of Rolling Fork by a 16-1 margin.
Unfortunately, the IA squad’s day of play would end later that afternoon with a 15-0 loss to Marshall Academy of Holly Springs.
The Lady Patriots would ultimately move on to a runner-up finish in the tournament. Briarfield Academy of Lake Providence, LA claimed the win in the title game.
Leading the hitting for IA in this tournament were Roberts (home run, single, 5 RBI’s), Mattie Beth Williamson (2 singles), Leighton Lovelace (2 singles), and Anna Grace Rowland (2 singles).
In the pitcher’s circle in IA’s win over SIA, Katie Ann Page and Roberts yielded only one hit apiece to the Rebels while combining to strike out five hitters and issuing only one base on balls.
