Thanks to jumping out to an 11-0 lead, the North Pike slow pitch softball team won its district opener decisively with a 19-7 victory in five innings at South Pike Tuesday.
The Lady Jaguars (4-1, 1-0) scored six runs in the top of the first inning highlighted by a Linley Smith one-run single, Skye James two-run triple and Whitley Howell one-run double.
Janiah Talbert hit a two-run bloop single to center in a four-run second inning for North Pike, while Smith and Ariel Johnson each had one-run singles. Talbert hit an inside-the-park homer in a one-run third inning to extend the lead to 11-0.
“We hit the ball, but we made some bad base-running mistakes that we know better than to make,” Lady Jaguars head coach Sonya Wallace said. “We had a couple errors on defense, but South Pike hit the ball well.”
Howell pitched all five innings for North Pike, while Tiana Osbey threw for South Pike.
“It makes it a lot more comfortable having a good lead pitching,” Howell said about getting an early 11-0 lead. “It just lets us relax, play more loose and have some fun. It’s important to get ahead and then play good defense.”
South Pike came back with three runs in the third and two apiece in the fourth and fifth innings.
Aydriana Smith hit a two-run triple for the Lady Eagles (1-1) in the third, while Osbey reached on an error for the final run of the frame.
Shakeria Brister hit a two-run triple for South Pike in the fourth inning. Aydriana Smith hit a one-run double, while Osbey hit a one-run single in the fifth.
“I think our ladies played good,” South Pike head coach LaTosha Washington said. “They hustled back. We’ve been there before, so it’s nothing for us to come back, as you see. They came up. I’m proud of them. They played hard and well.
“In the late innings they just knew that they had it and we was like, ‘We’ve got this. We can do this. Let’s hustle back in.’ ”
North Pike put together a five-run top of the fourth on a Reanna Ivey two-run double and two errors. Another three runs crossed the plate for the Lady Jaguars in the top of the fifth on a Bridgette Talbert two-run single and Monica Davis one-run single.
The Lady Jaguars’ head coach still believed her team played better in the earlier innings.
“We let up. We jumped out there and got those 10 runs, and we let up with our bats,” Wallace said. “In games like this you’ve got to finish the game early in that situation.”
Howell, who plays first base and outfield during the regular season, said it was crucial to start district play with a win. She noted she likes pitching during the fall and being at other positions in the spring.
“I enjoy pitching slow pitch because it keeps me in the game,” she said. “Every pitch I’m in the game. Fast pitch I like playing first base and switching between the two.”
North Pike hosts Brookhaven Thursday, and South Pike hosts Franklin County. The junior varsity starts at 5 p.m. in both games, and the varsity follows at 6:15.
Lady Jags beat Wesson Monday
Janiah Talbert homered as North Pike won at Wesson 4-2 on Monday. She was 4 for 4 with one run and two RBIs.
Howell gave up two earned runs, while recording one strikeout in the win.
Madison Moak was 1 for 4 with one run for North Pike, James and Johnson were each 2 for 4, Howell was 1 for 3 with one run, and Tristen Tolar was 1 for 3 with one RBI.
