Columbia Academy softball started off the season exceptionally well, but the Lady Cougars were humbled a bit in the past week with a pair of one-run losses.
Columbia Academy (6-3-1) lost a 2-1 pitcher’s duel Aug. 10 at Centreville Academy, with both of Centreville’s runs stemming directly from errors in the third inning. Abbey Peavey took the loss despite not allowing an earned run, striking out nine batters and allowing five hits and three walks. Maggie Wilks drove in the lone run for CA on a double as part of a two-hit night. Peavey also had a pair of base knocks.
Head coach Kyle Wilks said the Lady Cougars didn’t play bad, but they missed opportunities to get timely hits when they needed them to get runs in.
“We pitched pretty well. We just couldn’t really get it going offensively,” he said. “Their pitcher did a great job.”
Monday night at Oak Forest Academy was a completely different story in CA’s district opener. The Lady Cougars swung the bats exceptionally well and scored a lot of runs, but for the first time this season, walks played a key role as CA lost 14-13.
“We made a couple of mistakes defensively and walked a couple of batters. We never helped ourselves out by having a complete inning,” Wilks said. “It just seemed like we could never get out of an inning without giving up a run or two, but like I told them after the game, after getting down early, they could have easily given up. We put ourselves in a position where we had the tying run on second base when we lined out.”
Peavey uncharacteristically surrendered 13 runs (four earned) on nine hits and eight walks. Throughout the early portion of the season, she has been great at limiting free passes, but Wilks said credit has to be given to Oak Forest’s batters for consistently forcing Peavey to throw a lot of pitches to get an out. He said many of Peavey’s walks came with two strikes and following several foul balls.
“It probably wasn’t her best night, for sure, but she still pitched well enough to win,” Wilks said.
Taylor Berard threw the final 2 1/3 innings and pitched really well, allowing just one run on two walks and no hits.
Alana Bullock led the charge offensively with two singles and 3 RBI. Presley Dease roped a two-run double, and Briley Sullivan drove in a pair with a single. Macie Wilks plated a run with a single, and Abi Williams had a single and a double.
After seeing CA’s first district action this season, Wilks said he believes the district is wide open and that the teams will likely spend the fall beating up on each other.
“Obviously we would’ve liked to start it off with a win, but when you score 13 runs, you feel good about your chances,” he said. “Hopefully playing three games this week will give us some game reps to get things going for our two district games Monday and Tuesday.
The Lady Cougars played host to Centreville Academy in a rematch Tuesday night, but results were unavailable at press time. They will be on the road Thursday at Lamar Christian and again Monday at Silliman Institute (district). CA will return home Tuesday to take on Bowling Green in another district showdown.
Columbia Academy was supposed to host Brookhaven Academy Aug. 12 to open its district schedule, but it was rained out. It will be made up Sept. 2.
