Lady Indians tumble in season opener

By COSMO COSSEY

Sports Connection Team

MARKED TREE - Marked Tree (0-1) didn't fare well in their opening softball of the season as the Lady Indians lost 10-1 to Harrisburg (2-2) last Tuesday (March 5).

Johnna Jackson of Marked Tree readies to catch a pop fly on the infield during a game between Poinsett County teams at the Marked Tree Sports Complex. (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)

Addy Biggs led off with a bunt single for Harrisburg and went to second base on a passed ball. Hannah Mross grounded out moving Biggs to third as she scored on a ground out by Callie Caldwell to make it 1-0 Lady Hornets. Sofie Mooney was hit by a pitch before Chesney Henderson reached on an error. Both runners moved up a base on a passed ball before Madisyn Brazile singled to score Mooney making it 2-0 Harrisburg. Hawlee Morris struck out for out three. Ameya West walked leading off for Marked Tree in the bottom half of the inning before Ava Harsson watched strike three go by. Gabby Baker was hit by a pitch as Alyssa McGuire flew out. Johnna Jackson walked to load the bases only to see Riley Daniel strikeout to leave the runners stranded. Emma Massengill and Camilla Spiegel both grounded out for two quick outs for Harrisburg as Biggs bunted for another single. Mross grounded out for the third out keeping the score 2-0 Lady Hornets. Marked Tree went three up and three down as Chloe McCullar struck out and Rhonda Calhoun and Madison Plunk both struck out to end the inning.

Callie Caldwell struck out leading off the top of the third for Harrisburg but reached on a dropped third strike as Mooney was once again hit by a pitch. Henderson popped out before Brazile reached on an infield single to load the bases. Hawlee Morris reached on a fielder's choice that forced Caldwell out at home as Allee Morris came in to courtesy run. Massengill was hit by a pitch that brought in Mooney making it 3-0. Spiegel reached on an error that plated Brazile as Allee Morris was thrown out at the plate for out three. The Lady Indians went down in order in the bottom half as West and Harsson both struck out and Baker flew out. Biggs walked leading off the top of the fourth inning for the Lady Hornets before Mross line count to third. Callie Caldwell reached on a fielder's choice that forced Biggs at second base. Callie Caldwell stole second base only to left on base when Henderson grounded out. McGuire reached base on an infield single for Marked Tree in the bottom half of the fourth before stealing second base. Jackson coaxed a walked as Daniel, McCullar, and Lakrissa Dupree all struck out to end the inning with Harrisburg up 4-0.

Brazile led off with single for Harrisburg in the top of the fifth inning and moved to second on a passed and to third on a wild pitch. Hawlee Morris' ground out scored Brazile to make it 5-0 Lady Hornets. Massengill struck out as Spiegel singled and went to third on an error by the fielder. Spiegel scored on a passed ball to make it 6-0 before Biggs struck out but reached first on a dropped third strike. Mross popped out for the third out. The Lady Indians went down in order in the bottom half of the inning as Plunk grounded out, West popped out and Harsson struck out. Callie Caldwell grounded out leading off the top of the sixth inning as Mooney followed with a double. Henderson's sacrifice bunt moved Mooney to third before she scored on a double by Brazile to make it 7-0 Harrisburg. Hawlee Morris followed with a double that plated Brazile to make the score 8-0 Lady Hornets. Massengill looked at strike three for the third out. Baker singled for Marked Tree in the bottom half of the inning only to be forced out at second base on McGuire's ground ball. McGuire stole second base only to left there as Jackson flew out and Daniel struck out looking to end the inning.

Spiegel grounded out for the Lady Hornets leading off the top of the sixth inning before Biggs singled. Mross reached on an error as Callie Caldwell struck out looking. A double steal moved Biggs and Mross up a base before both scored on a single by Mooney to make the score 10-0. Henderson struck out looking for the third out. Alesia Rand reached on an infield single and moved to third on a missed throw at first base. Calhoun singled to score Rand making it 10-1 before getting tagged out in a rundown. Jasmin Mendoza and West both struck out to end the game.

“I thought the kids came out and competed for their first game with only practice under our belt,” Marked Tree head coach Ryan Hargrove said. “Basketball's great season gave us a late start but the kids did okay. We had chances to score more runs but didn't and we'll work on improving that. I'm happy with today. It's never fun to lose but we can learn from the game today,” Hargrove said.

Calhoun had a hit and a RBI to lead Marked Tree at the plate as Rand finished with a hit and a run scored. McGuire added a hit and two stolen bases and Baker had a hit for the Lady Indians. Baker took the loss in the circle as she pitched seven innings while giving up 10 run on 11 hits with two walks, eight strikeouts and three hit batters.

“We hit the ball better today and didn't have very many errors in the field,” Harrisburg head coach Christy Buchanan said after the game. “We moved some players around during the game and we had some different players step up for us today,” Buchanan added.

Brazile had four hits, three runs scored and two RBI to lead Harrisburg as Mooney finished with two hits, three runs scored and two RBIs. Biggs added three hits, two runs scored and a stolen base with Hawlee Morris having a hit a two RBIs for the Lady Hornets. Hawlee Morris got the win with a complete game while allowing one run on four hits with three walks, 12 strikeouts and one hit batter.