Through two games, the East Marion Lady Eagles have scored 33 runs without fielding their expected starting lineup, highlighting the potential for a potent offense.
Thanks to a five-run fifth inning, East Marion (1-1) won its season opener 11-10 over Tylertown Feb. 23 at home. The Lady Eagles pounded out 13 hits in the victory with seven extra-base hits, including two home runs.
Car’Miyah Bullock and Adrinae Aikens (2 RBI) each homered, while Ashley Raybourn (2 RBI) both doubled and tripled. Kylie Watts (RBI), Jalasia Akins and Holly Jackson (RBI) all had doubles. Raybourn pitched all six innings, striking out four while allowing seven earned runs on 15 hits and two walks.
A few days later, East Marion lost an offensive explosion 24-22 to Salem Feb. 26 at home.
The Lady Eagles played at Salem in a rematch Thursday, but results were unavailable at press time. They will host Laurel Saturday then Sacred Heart Monday.
Head coach Jeremy Allen said the Lady Eagles played their first two games with a never-give-up attitude as they had to play a lot of middle school players with the basketball girls missing the first game and several starters missing the second. They were expected to be at full strength going into the Salem rematch.
“We’re hitting it pretty good right now. Some of those girls that have been stepping in for the basketball girls have been making some errors in the field, but they were producing at the plate,” he said.
Allen said he feels pretty good about East Marion’s options in the circle with Raybourn throwing more strikes this year and Watts, a seventh grader, expected to pitch in some big moments this season.
“Kylie (Watts) throws it pretty hard for a seventh grader, but she doesn’t have a lot of secondary pitches to go with it. So she’s going to be pitching to contact, and when we get those basketball girls back, hopefully we’ll make the plays,” he said.
With the way Region 8-2A stacks up this year, Allen said he expects the Lady Eagles to compete for the district championship.
“Perry Central is down this year, Collins is Collins and St. Patrick’s coach told me they’re down this year,” he said. “We’re giving it everything we’ve got.”
