Lady Pats win pair of thrillers in Southaven

Lady Pats win pair of thrillers in Southaven

Marion gets to 9- 3, readies for North Little Rock showdown

Sports Editor SOUTHAVEN, Mississippi — A pair of close games against out-ofstate competition didn’t shake the Marion Lady Patriots on Saturday afternoon.

Participating in the Southaven Tournament for at least the third straight season, Marion got to 9-3 overall after nailing down a 3-2 win against Brighton, Tennessee and a 6-1 decision against nearby Olive Branch at Glenbrook Softball Park.

In the opener, Marion’s bats came alive with a three-run rally in the top of the fourth, highlighted by a Destiny King two-run pinch-hit single that would double as the game-winning hit. That offensive explosion made a winner of junior Hope Phipps (4-1) who worked 6 and 1/3 innings before handing off to senior Mabry Watson, who posted a two-out save.

In the 4:30 outing against Olive Branch, Marion came from behind for the second time in as many games, erasing a 1-0 deficit in the third inning, posting a 6-1 win after striking for two runs in the bottom of the third, and four more tallies in the home-half of the fifth inning. The game lasted just five-and-a-half innings due to a 75-minute time limit during the tournament.

Watson (5-2, 1 save) was back in the circle against Olive Branch, working the first three innings of the game for the win before handing off to senior Morgan Weaver, who entered with a 2-1 lead and notched a nine-out save by retiring all nine batters that she faced in order.

All in all, the two wins made for a much happier David Horton, Marion’s veteran head softball coach.

“A couple of really good wins today,” Horton stated after the Olive Branch contest. “I thought we competed very hard at the plate in both games, and we didn’t let those Cabot games affect us. We still need to really work defensively, we’re making too many mistakes, but all in all, I’m pleased to win against a pair of good teams.”

That defense nearly contest Marion in the opener against Brighton. The Lady Pats made four errors against the Lady Cardinals, leading to an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth, which was Brighton’s last plate appearance of the day.

The Lady Cards took advantage of a lead-off walk in the bottom of the first inning. The free pass came back to haunt Marion in the form of a 1-0 deficit three batters later with an RBI single.

That lead held up as each starter dug in on the other school’s offensive lineup.

Marion entered the top of the fourth inning with just two hits to its name, while Brighton could manage just three baserunners after claiming that lead in the first.

Things started going Marion’s way in the top of the fourth, however. The Lady Pats put four consecutive runners on with one out in that frame to take that 3-1 lead.

The rally started when Blakeleigh Garrison singled, followed by catcher Micah Tolleson reaching on an error. First basewoman Haley Cook would chase Garrison in with a single to right field to tally the equalizing run. Cook would advance to second on a throw to third base, and suddenly Marion had two runners in scoring position with just one out.

That set the scene for King to make a pinch-hit appearance, despite not having played in a week after getting hit with a line drive during a pitching appearance in Wynne.

Despite being down 1-2 in the count, King delivered with a two-run single to right field to stake her squad to a 3-1 lead.

King stayed in the game to play left field, and ended the following inning with a diving catch to help preserved the advantage.

“What a couple of big plays there by Destiny,” says Horton. “To go from not playing at all last night (Friday against Cabot) to coming up big like that was pretty impressive.”

However, Brighton proved to be tough to shake. The Lady Cards coaxed a walk and a single around a popout to Phipps to get the tying runs on base in the top of the fifth, which was to be the game’s final atbat, due to the time limit.

That summoned Watson to the circle from shortstop and the senior came up big for Marion again. The second Brighton run scored on an error and the Lady Cards also came up with a hit to put the tying and goahead runs on second and third before Watson snared a hot comebacker and threw to first to help Marion avoid a three-game losing streak.

In her 6 and 1/3 innings of work, Phipps allowed four hits, walked two and was tagged with both Brighton runs, one of which was earned.

After a short lunch break, Marion hit the field to play Olive Branch. That contest produced two-and-a-half innings of scoreless softball until the Lady Conquistadors broke through when a walk and an error pushed them ahead 1-0.

However, Marion was quick to respond. King got a start at third base against Olive Branch, and drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the third. Watson then reached on a bunt single and Weaver tied the game by smashing a single to score King.

Raygan Shelton gave her team the lead when she singled to score Weaver and Olive Branch escaped the inning by getting two consecutive outs to get to the fourth inning.

Fresh off of her gametying hit, Weaver entered the game for her first varsity pitching appearance of the season. The senior was up to the task as she retired nine straight Olive Branch batters in order. Five putouts went to Phipps at third base. Weaver struck one batter out and did not walk anyone.

“Morgan came to us before the season and just told us that if we needed her to pitch some this year, she was ready for it,” said Horton. “I’m just proud of her coming into a tough situation like that and pitching well.”

Marion tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the fifth when the first four Lady Pats reached base and scored.

Weaver started the rally by getting hit with a pitch and she scored from second on a Shelton single.

Shelton came around on a Phipps hit, and Phipps would dent the dish when Tolleson grounded out to shortstop. The rally ended when Garrison walked and scored on a Cook groundout for what would eventually be a 6-1 final.

Next on the docket for Marion is a big 7A/6AEast doubleheader against three-time defending Class 7A state champion North Little Rock on the road tonight.

The Lady Charging Wildcats are 8-3 so far this season. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Burns Park in North Little Rock.

By Chuck Livingston