Lady Jackets keeping on top through the midseason
For six innings last week on Thursday, the Pepperell softball team stayed right with one of the best Class AA teams in the state. Then, in a matter of minutes, Rockmart caught fire and ran with it.
The Lady Jackets put together a four-run rally in the seventh inning and limited Pepperell’s offense as they beat the Lady Dragons 7-2 in a Region 7-AA battle in Lindale.
The win keeps Rockmart undefeated and increases its lead to two games in the region standings.
Rockmart’s Kinsey Jones reached base three times and went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Emma Evans had a hit, a walk and two runs scored and Cambree Stanley went 2 for 4 with one RBI and one run scored.
The Lady Jackets (13-0, 7-0 7-AA) benefitted from three Pepperell errors, including two in the seventh, but their bats came alive in the final inning as well, with three twoout singles plating runs.
“Being sharp at the plate is what has carried us all year long,” Rockmart coach Steve Luke said. “And in the seventh we just finally started hitting the ball. And that came down to quality at-bats.”
Pepperell pitcher Anna Cowan and third baseman Maddie Clay each went 2 for 4 with an RBI, while Sydnie Edwards reached base twice and scored a run. In the field, Clay and Dahlia Sanford are a couple of the Lady Dragons who made plays to keep the game close for most of the game.
Cowan made efficient work of Rockmart’s powerful lineup, allowing only six hits in the first six innings. The Lady Jackets churned out three runs off of those hits, but the Lady Dragons ( 7- 2, 4- 2) countered with runs in the second and fourth.
Rockmart pitcher Emily Loveless got out of trouble inning after inning as Pepperell left runners in scoring position in three of the first four innings, scoring only two runs in that span.
The Aug. 31 outcome only solidified what Luke hopes this season will bring out of his team as they continue on and aim to make it deep into the postseason once again.
“This has been t he toughest schedule we’ve had since I’ve been the coach,” Luke said. “This year, we’re doing what we can to be prepared. I couldn’t care less what our record is.”
Lady Jackets swarmed the opposition once again with yet another victory on the ball field on Aug. 29 as well.
This season the Lady Jackets have been tearing it up at the home plate, this time with Kinsey Jones stepping up and showing off her swing contributing a trio of big hits for Rockmart.
Carlee Graham also had a good day at the plate, with her own trio of hits and gained three RBI’s on her efforts at bat. Loveless also came in clutch for the Lady Jackets at bat with two RBI’s this game.
Graham took on pitching duties against the Lady Warriors, and came in with 12 first pitch strikes and four strikeouts against the visitors.
“This was a good win for the girls, I feel like they had some what of a hangover from the Breman on Monday, which was a 4-3 win that we pulled out of the bag in the 6th inning, and that’s why came in making a couple mistakes at the beginning.” said head coach Steven Luke. “Overall it was a good win for the Jackets and I feel like the girls did well at the bat this game.”
Rockmart travels to Cedartown after a break from region play today.
RN- T Sports Writer Tommy Romanach and Standard Journal Correspondent Tyler Williams contributed to this report.