Although they dropped their first district contest of the season, the East Marion Lady Eagles were shorthanded and responded in full force.
The Lady Eagles (5-7, 2-1) fell 17-5 at St. Patrick March 26 but were without their top two pitchers because of injury. They actually outhit the Lady Irish 11-5 in the loss.
“We had to throw a seventh grader, and she struggled tremendously,” head coach Jeremy Allen said. “St. Patrick finished with five hits on the night and 16 walks. Every batter we walked scored, and that hurt us.”
East Marion was back to full strength against Collins Monday as the Lady Eagles won both games of a doubleheader 30-6 and 17-1.
In the first game, the Lady Eagles scored 18 runs in the first inning and 12 in the second, collecting 19 hits, stealing 29 bases and drawing 12 walks. Asia Lenoir hit for the cycle with a single, double, triple and home run to drive in four runs. Adrinae Akins and Zi’Kiya Bridges both homered and had 4 RBI, while Holly Jackson homered, doubled twice and drove in three runs. Bridges got the win in the circle despite allowing six runs on three hits and six walks in three innings.
Ashley Raybourn kept the Collins lineup in check in Game 2, allowing one run on three hits while fanning two batters in two innings. Aikens and Jalasia Akins (5 RBI) each homered for the Lady Eagles, while Kylie Watts had 3 RBI on a triple and a single to lead an offense that also stole 28 bases.
“Collins wasn’t very good, but they put the ball in play and we made the plays. When they threw the ball across the plate, we put good swings on it. Everything we did was good,” Allen said. “In district play, I feel like we still have room to grow, but we’ve taken the right steps to be successful. We still have a shot to be the 1-seed if we beat St. Patrick when they come to us by 13 (runs).”
Both of East Marion’s games against Perry Central have been rained out, including Tuesday’s scheduled matchup, so the two schools will play a doubleheader April 12 at East Marion. Allen said the Lady Eagles had made it all the way to Hattiesburg Tuesday before Perry Central’s coach called to say the field was too wet.
The Lady Eagles will play host to Laurel Saturday then play at McComb Monday. They will have six days off before the Perry Central doubleheader then play host to St. Patrick April 13.
Allen said having those six days off should give the Lady Eagles at least four practices to improve on the little things they are still making mistakes on.
“It’s the little things like knowing where to throw the ball when it’s hit to us,” he said. “I guess it’s our mentality or focus. Some of the girls have it, and some of the girls are still caught up in the game because when the ball is hit to them, they’re excited and think ‘let me get the out at first’ rather than getting the out at second.”
