JA Softball hosted the Lady Patriots of Jackson Prep this evening at Raider Park. 8th graders Ashton Berry and Columbia Holeman put in a combined effort from the pitcher’s circle against the 5th ranked Lady Patriots. They both threw 65% strikes and logged 2 strike outs each, but the experienced Lady Patriot bats were able to bang out 15 total hits and 6 earned runs. The pitching staff was trying to stay ahead by throwing 60% first pitch strikes but some timely, well-placed hits and four untimely Lady Raider errors kept Jackson Prep in command from the top of the first inning.
The Lady Patriots jumped out ahead with 8 runs in the top of the first inning, but the Lady Raiders attempted to provide an answer in the bottom of the first, putting up four of their runs, continuing to show glimpses of what can be had from the Lady Raider offense. While only logging 3 total hits, the Lady Raiders also only struck out 3 times the entire game, keeping those bats making contact 75% of the time. Two of those hits (a 175ft smash to right-center by Addison Avdoyan which scored 2 runs, and a stand up triple by Delaney Wallace scoring one run) were in the bottom of the first inning. Berry also logged an RBI in the first to cut the deficit down to 4 runs heading into the second. Both teams put another run on the board in the second inning, but JA struggled to get any runners in scoring positions in the remaining innings while Jackson Prep was able to add on 5 more runs. The Lady Raiders fall to Jackson Prep, 14-5.
