They are the perfect definition of a work in progress.
Loaded with youth and inexperience, the 0-5 Indianola Academy Lady Colonel softball team remains in search of their first win of the season.
However, with a minimum of six games in six days on tap, there is ample opportunity to record that initial IA victory. To the Lady Colonels’ benefit, five of these six games will be played on their Chism Park home-field.
While today’s trip to Washington School in Greenville offers a 6:30 p.m. clash with the Lady Generals, this Saturday brings a wide assortment of competition.
For on that day there will be eight softball teams descending on Chism Park to take part in the Indianola Academy Tournament.
IA Head Coach Patrick Davis’ squad will see their first action at 8 a.m. when they take the field against Pillow Academy of Greenwood.
Once this game is settled, the Lady Colonels will immediately return to action with a 9:15 a.m. match-up versus Sharkey-Issaquena Academy of Rolling Fork.
Subsequent tournament play for the IA squad is dependent on their, and other teams’, initial early-morning game results.
Following Saturday’s tournament play, the IA softball action then becomes ever-more critical next week with the opening of District 2 competition.
On Monday, Carroll Academy comes to Chism Park while Tuesday brings Oak Hill Academy of West Point to town to take on the Lady Colonels. First pitch for both games are scheduled to thrown at 6:30 p.m.
In this Saturday’s day-long tournament action, Pillow Academy and SIA will join Briarfield Academy of Lake Providence, LA, Carroll Academy, Deer Creek School of Arcola, Marshall Academy of Holly Springs, St. Joseph High of Greenville, Washington School, and Winona Christian School to complete the list of out-of-town competition.
The Lady Rebels of Briarfield Academy are the defending State A Champion and were also the Lady Colonels most-recent competition in Lake Providence this past Tuesday.
Although the game entered the third inning deadlocked at four runs apiece, a six-run uprising aided by IA errors and Briarfield hits saw the potent Lady Rebels take over the game.
Eventually losing by an 18-4 margin, the Lady Colonels’ five hit attack was led by Allie Snell’s pair of singles and a two RBI single from Emma Grace Koger.
In other action this past Saturday, Lady Colonels’ participation in the Winona Christian School Tournament yielded losses to the host team (6-0), Benton Academy (10-1) and Carroll Academy (9-0).
With base hits hard to come by, the Lady Colonels tournament efforts were led by Caitlyn Smith’s single and double.
Smith also tallied the only run for IA in this tournament following a Leighton Lovelace RBI fielder’s choice.
