Manufacturing runs and making key defensive plays propelled Parklane Academy to a 2-0 win against Natchez Cathedral on senior night and the final home game for the 2016 softball regular season.
Both of the Lady Pioneers’ (17-8, 7-1) runs came in the bottom of the third inning.
Mabry Glass reached on an error off of the first baseman’s glove, went to second on a Lana Moak sacrifice bunt and third on a Carrington Jefcoat groundout. Glass scored on a wild pitch to Halee Jenkins.
Destini Brown reached on an infield single to the shortstop, went to second on Jefcoat’s groundout, third on a wild pitch to Jenkins and scored on a Jenkins infield single to second base.
“Once again, that’s another sign of a good squad,” Parklane head coach Steve Sasser said. “When they face a good pitcher, they can find a way to manufacture runs, play good defense and have good pitching. They’ll go a long way in the tournament doing those three things.”
The game was on a 90-minute time limit and went just six innings. Natchez Cathedral has a key district game tonight and asked for the time limit.
Natchez Cathedral had runners reach base in four of the six innings and scoring opportunities in the first and third innings. However, Parklane starting pitcher Mary McLean Lindsey, who gave up no runs in four inning for the win, got out of the jams.
The Green Wave had two singles in the top of the first to give them runners on first and third with one out. The runner on first took second base uncontested to give them runners at second and third with one out.
The next hitter grounded out to Jenkins at third and both runners were held on base. LaDynasti “Bree” Carr caught a fly ball in left field to end the innings.
Lindsey hit the first batter to open the top of the third and two more hitters reached base on balls hit in the infield.
Lindsey got the final two outs on a popout and force out at second base. Moak fielded the ground ball and got it to Glass at second base for the force out to end the inning.
“Once again, as this year has gone on, we have found a way to work our way out of situations,” Sasser said. “That is the mark of a good team. As we get into the championship round, there’s going to be times when we’re going to be in a situation where we just have to buckle down and work our way out of it. These young ladies have learned how to do that.”
Hannah Creel picked up the save giving up no hits while recording three strikeouts in the final two innings.
All six seniors started for Parklane since it was senior night. Brown, Glass, Jefcoat, Carr, Lindsey and Courtney Creel are the seniors.
Brown went 3 for 3 with one double and one run, Glass scored one run and Courtney Creel walked in her one at bat.
Sasser said he planned to start the seniors.
“It was intentional,” he said. “It was senior night. These young ladies have spent several years working hard and they deserve starting tonight. I was very, very proud of each and every one of them.”
Parklane concludes the regular season at Silliman Institute in Clinton, La., tonight with the junior varsity starting at 6 and the varsity following at 7:15. The postseason starts at Shiloh Park in Brandon Saturday.
