Lady Raiders take two of three in Trinity Christian tournament

Published 11:18 pm Monday, August 6, 2018

By Staff Reports

 

DUBLIN – The Southland Academy Lady Raiders softball team got the 2018 campaign off to a solid start by winning two of three games in the Trinity Christian round-robin tournament in Dublin, GA on Friday, August 3.

In the Lady Raiders’ first game of the tournament. They took on Edmund Burke Academy from Waynesboro, GA. EBA struck first with two runs in the top of the first inning. Southland responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning.

Edmund Burke scored another run on an error in the top of the third to make it 3-1. However, in the bottom of the third, the Lady Raiders pulled to within one run. Holly McCain was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Sara Beth Storey grounded into a fielder’s choice and McCain was thrown out at second. However, Storey stole second base. Reese Roland popped up for the second out, but Katie Rogers doubled in Storey for Southland’s second run of the game.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Raiders tied the game at 3-3. With runners at first and second with one out, Alli Dent singled to right field, scoring Hannah Mitchell.

After Dent advanced to second base on a passed ball, Holly McCain doubled to left field, scoring Dent to give Southland a 4-3 lead. The Lady Raiders increased their lead by two runs when Storey singled in McCain.

The Lady Raiders scored three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. With runners on first and second with one out, Alli Dent singled to load the bases for Holly McCain. McCain flew out to center field for the second out of the inning. The fly ball was not deep enough to score the run. However, Storey belted a three-run double to give Southland an 8-3 lead.

The Lady Raiders got another insurance run when Morgan Minick scored on a passed ball. That would be all the Lady Raiders would need. Edmund Burke got one more run in the top of the seventh, but that would be as close as they would get as the Lady Raiders took Game 1 of the tournament 9-4.

Southland junior pitcher Rylan Youngdale made her varsity debut on Friday, August 3, against Edmund Burke Academy. The Lady Raiders won 9-4.
Photo by Sherri Bass

Sara Beth Storey spearheaded the Lady Raiders’ offensive attack by going 2-for-4 at the plate and driving in four RBIs. Alli Dent also had a hot bat. Dent went 3-for-4, driving in an RBI. Rylan Youngdale had a solid outing on the mound in her varsity debut. She pitched six innings, giving up two runs on six hits. One of those runs was earned. She walked three batters and struck out one.

The next opponent for Southland was Brentwood out of Sandersville, GA. This was a tougher game for the Lady Raiders. However, with the score tied 5-5 in the top of the seventh, Brookland Weaver doubled in the winning run to give Southland a hard-fought 6-5 victory.

Alli Dent was the starting pitcher for the Lady Raiders. She pitched six and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs on 11 hits and striking out two.

Brookland Weaver went 3-for-4, scored a run and drove in two RBIs. Sara Beth Storey continued her hot streak at the plate. Storey went 2-for-4, scored two runs and drove in two more. Reese Roland went 2-for-4 and drove in two RBIs. Holly McCain also had a hot bat. McCain went 2-for-3 and scored two runs.

With two hard-fought wins under their belt, the Lady Raiders were poised and ready to take a three-game sweep and win the tournament as they went up against the host school, Trinity Christian. However, the Lady Crusaders overwhelmed Southland. Trinity scored six runs in the second inning and seven in the fourth to complete a 13-0 shutout of the Lady Raiders. Southland was only able to manage three hits in this game, while Trinity Christian scored 13 runs on 13 hits. Sara Beth Storey, Reese Roland and Brookland Weaver each tallied Southland’s three hits.

However, the Lady Raiders had a strong showing in the tournament, taking two of three games. They travel to Damascus, GA to take on Southwest Georgia Academy on Tuesday, August 7. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. The first home game for the Lady Raiders will be Thursday, August 9, against Westwood. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.