Things did not go as planned as the North Pike slow pitch softball team was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs 2-0 at home in a best-of-three series to Northeast Jones on Saturday night, but head coach Sonya Wallace walked away with only positive memories.
The Lady Jaguars (9-4) lost Game 1, 6-5, and Game 2, 4-2.
“They’ve been a great group to work with this year,” Wallace said. “It’s been one of my most memorable seasons where the record might not show it, but these girls came out, worked hard every day, had great attitudes and did whatever we asked them to do. I’m going to miss our three seniors — Whitley (Howell), Reanna (Ivey) and Skye (James). They’ve been a great group to work with over the years.”
Howell was a pitcher, Ivey was a first baseman, and James was an outfielder.
North Pike committed eight errors in the 6-5 loss while giving up three runs in the third and another three in the sixth. The Lady Tigers hit a three-run homer in the top of the second and scored on a double, a ball hit in the infield and sacrifice fly in the sixth.
North Pike cut Northeast Jones’ lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the second as Howell singled and scored on a Sydney Williams two-out bloop double.
Trailing 6-1, North Pike scored two in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Lady Tigers’ lead to 6-3 on a two-run Monica Davis single scoring Linley Smith, who walked, and Howell, who singled.
North Pike scored two more in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead to 6-5.
Janiah Talbert singled and scored on James single, while Alaia Crossley singled and scored on a Smith single.
Howell pitched all seven innings giving up three earned runs while recording one strikeout. She also led the team in hitting going 3 for 4 with two runs.
All four of Northeast Jones’ runs in Game 2 came on home runs. The Lady Tigers hit a two-run homer in the first and two solo shots in the sixth.
Madison Moak reached on a fielder’s choice for North Pike in the third and scored on an Ariel Johnson single to right center to cut Northeast Jones’ lead to 2-1.
After falling behind 0-2 in the count, Moak battled back to lead off the sixth with a single to left. Moak scored on a Howell sacrifice fly for the Lady Jaguars’ other run.
Howell threw a complete game, giving up six hits and four earned runs.
Talbert and Johnson both went 2 for 3 to lead North Pike from the plate, while Moak went 1 for 3 and scored both runs. Howell went 1 for 2 with an RBI and Smith went 1 for 3.
“We just couldn’t get the timely hits,” Wallace said. “We had runners in scoring position and just couldn’t get the timely hit. We’ve had great practice this week. It’s like I told the girls, I’m not sure what happened. We just couldn’t get things going tonight, and they’ve worked hard all week to prepare for today. I just hate that things couldn’t have been different.”
Wallace said she hopes her team can carry her attitude and work ethic into fast pitch softball in the spring.
