Lady Tigers fall to Jackson in home opener
Lady Tigers catcher Ally Flowers awaits the throw at the plate. (HCP Photos/Jim Jones)
The McClain varsity softball team lost to a very good Jackson squad Monday night on Daryle Unger Field, 8-3 in the conference and home opener for the Lady Tigers.
McClain starter Vivian Dennis had a rocky start in the beginning of the game, giving up a pair of long home runs off the bats of Brynn Denny and Makayla Wyant that gave Jackson an early 3-0 lead after just one inning of play.
It was a complete opposite beginning to the game for the Ironladies’ freshman starter Serenity Taylor, who stuck out the side in the opening frame and held the Lady Tigers scoreless over the first three innings. Jackson scored another run in the top of the second while collecting just a single hit for a 4-0 advantage which would be really all the offense the Ironladies needed to win the game.
McClain was able to score single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings, but it wasn’t enough as Jackson posted the 8-3 conference-opening victory.
Offensive leaders for the Lady Tigers were Leah Lovett, who was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Harley Peabody also had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double.
Gracie Bowers who also pitched well over the final couple of innings in relief of Dennis, had two hits in two plate appearances for McClain. Jayden McCoy, Ally Flowers and Brie Cummins each collected a hit for the Lady Tigers.
“Today kind of went like our first four games went,” said McClain head coach Ed Bolender. “At times we play really well, like we did today over those last three or four innings when we outscored them.
“Defensively, I thought we played very well, we just need to get that one big hit when we have runners in scoring position. We gave up four unearned runs in this game, so really it was really a 4-3 game if that didn’t happen.
“Jackson is a quality team that has beat some really good teams already this season,” Bolender continued. “We just need to clean up some things and pick up an extra hit here or there, then we would be right where we want to be.
“We just need to keep our girls’ heads up going forward. I told our kids we’re 2-3 now and just starting league play, and it’s going to be a challenge. We’ll practice tomorrow and work hard to get better and play Washington Wednesday.”
The Lady Tigers (0-1, 2-3) travel to Washington Wednesday, April 12 before returning home Thursday, April 13 to play Miami Trace in a makeup game, then host FAC foe Chillicothe on Friday, April 14.
