ACCS cruises past Tensas Academy 16-2 on senior night

Published 12:03 am Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Adams County Christian School’s Briana Henson slides home to score a run against Tensas Academy during ACCS’s 16-2 victory. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)

Adams County Christian School’s Briana Henson slides home to score a run against Tensas Academy during ACCS’s 16-2 victory. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)

NATCHEZ — As Adams County Christian School seniors Jordan Petty and Ashleigh Williams walked onto the field for their last home game and to be honored for senior night, a few tears rolled down their cheeks.

“This team is my family,” Petty said. “I love every one of these girls like a sister, and for them to show the emotion towards me like they did before the game, that means a lot.”

Petty and Williams combined to drive in six of ACCS’ 16 runs on the night, as the Rebels ran away from Tensas Academy, 16-2.

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“It was a nice way to end the regular season,” ACCS head coach Rick Fife said. “The seniors had a good showing tonight. We started a little slow, but as time went on, we got on their pitcher and started hitting her well.”

Williams got the win in the circle for the Lady Rebels pitching four innings and giving up just one run. Petty, who is the team’s usual catcher, even got a crack at pitching, throwing for an inning.

“I had talked to coach Fife and said maybe I’ll pitch senior night,” Petty said. “And he said maybe you will. I was joking because I hadn’t pitched in years, but it was fun.”

ACCS jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning courtesy of an RBI double from Briana Henson and a sacrifice fly from Williams.

Tensas Academy answered with a run of their own in the top of the third, but it was all ACCS the rest of the way.

The Lady Rebels batted around and scored eight runs in the bottom of the third, two of which were driven in by Petty and Williams, to push the lead to 10-1.

The Lady Chiefs added a run in the top of the fourth, but ACCS racked up another six runs in the bottom of the inning to put the game away.

Williams drove in two on an double and Petty another on a single.

“I’m glad that I could get the job done for my girls and succeed,” Williams said.

Williams said although she was filled with emotion, she knew she had to block it out during the game.

“I just pushed all of that to the back of my mind because I knew it would bring up the tears again,” she said. “Then I would get too emotional to focus.”

Fife said the duo has been instrumental in the success of the ACCS softball program.

“The seniors have been here since the eighth grade and mean a lot to our program that started up not too many years ago,” he said. “They played a big part in everything.”

With the regular season finished, ACCS moves on to the South State tournament beginning Saturday.

“In our regular season I thought at times we played well and at other times not so well,” Fife said. “But we’ve got to be ready to play Saturday.”