From staff reports

WOODVILLE — Wilkinson County Christian Academy’s fast pitch softball team was looking to continue its momentum after going 3-2 at last Saturday’s Amite School Center Tournament.

Meanwhile, the Trinity Episcopal Lady Saints, under new head coach Sue Geter, were looking to pick up a win on the road after going 1-2 at the ASC Tournament to start their season.

Trinity gave WCCA everything it could handle, but the Lady Rams pulled away with a four-run rally in the bottom of the third inning for a hard-fought 10-5 win over the Lady Saints Monday afternoon.

“I was extremely pleased with the attitude at the bat,” WCCA head coach Ray Olive said. “We laid down the bunt perfectly. We got the big hit when we needed it. I believe that my girls have found a way to come together and they’ve done this just in the last few days.”

Winning pitcher Bethany Fletcher went 2-for-2 with a triple and Heather Stutzman went 3-for-3 with a double as the Lady Rams finished with 11 hits.

But just as he was pleased with his team’s effort in winning four of its last six games after a 1-5 start, Olive said that Trinity Episcopal, in just its second season of fast pitch softball and with its second head coach in as many seasons, has an opportunity to have a special season.

“They’re a much-improved team from last year. They played a tough game tonight. I’m extremely impressed with them. They’re playing hard and having fun. They’re going to win a lot of games if they continue to play like this. I never felt like the game was in hand the way they kept scrapping.”

Trinity (1-3) scored one run in the top of the first inning, but WCCA responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Mary Catherine Iles, who went 2-for-3, doubled in two runs to make it a 4-3 game in the top of the second.

WCCA (5-7) scored two runs in the bottom of the second to make it a 6-3 game. The Lady Saints stayed in the game with one run in the top of the third, but the Lady Rams put the game away in the bottom of the third. Trinity cut the lead to 10-5 in the top of the fifth, but the Lady Saints couldn’t keep the rally going.

“Trinity kept the pressure on us. They batted six batters in the first inning and nine in the second,” Olive said. “They made us play fighting tooth and nail to finish this game. We have had so many distractions and they have found a way to play ball.”