By Craig Brown
The Dillon Christian School Lady Warriors softball team opened the 2015 season with an 11-0 loss to the Lady Cavaliers of Robert E. Lee Academy.
Bad weather and many of the players also starting the season late due to basketball or cheer leading put the Warriors behind other teams at this point.
The Warriors seemed evenly matched with the Cavaliers but dug themselves into a hole early in the game with errors likely caused by first game jitters. The Warriors fell behind 1-0 in the first inning which should have ended three up and out.
In the top of the second inning, two errors and a walked batter loaded the bases for Cavalier power hitter Meagan Watson who sent a fastball over centerfield for a grand slam home run. A sacrifice fly out to right added an additional second inning run for the Cavaliers to put them up 6-0. The third inning produced no runs, leaving the score at a 6-0 Cavalier lead. The Warriors left three runners on base as the inning closed.
The Cavaliers produced two runs in the top of the fourth on two hits, an error, and a walked batter for an 8-0 lead. The Warriors made contact with the ball but couldn’t get the ball past the gloves of the Cavalier fielders in the bottom of the inning.
In the top of the fifth, the Cavaliers grabbed three runs on three hits, a fielder’s choice hit, and a walk to put them up 11-0. The Warriors left two runners on base as the fifth inning came to a close, ending the game on the ten run lead after five innings.
The Warrior coaches will be working with the team on improving their hitting and fielding to prepare for Friday’s game with Trinity/Byrnes Collegiate School.
On the mound for the Warriors, Jamie Carpenter walked five batters, put two runners to base on a hit by pitch, and allowed six hits and 11 runs scored with the Warrior defense giving up six runs on errors and bad field judging.
On the mound for the Cavaliers, Kelsey Watford got eight strikeouts, walked three batters, and allowed one hit with no runs scored in three innings on the mound for the win. Reghann Griffin added a strikeout with one walked batter and allowed one hit and no runs scored in two innings on the mound.
At Bat for the Warriors, Madison King was 2-for-3 with a double; Ansley Hamer got to base on a fielder’s choice and a walk; Emilie Martin got to base on a fielder’s choice and a walk; and Jamie Carpenter and Erin Hamer made it to base on a walk.
At bat for the Cavaliers, Meagan Watson was 2-for-3 with a grand slam homerun and four RBI; Reghann Griffin was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI; Kristen Manuel was 1-for-2; Ales White was 1-for-2 with two RBI; and Ellen Dinkins was 1-for-3.
Friday’s game with Trinity/Byrnes is set for 4:00 p.m. in Darlington.
