NATCHEZ — Both the ACCS Lady Rebels and the Huntington Lady Hounds were looking for their first win of the season when the two teams faced each other Monday afternoon.

Led by the pitching of Mary Sanders and a key two-run double by Katie Hester in the bottom of the first inning, ACCS defeated Huntington 6-2 in six innings at the ACCS softball field to improve to 1-3 on the season.

“Early in the game we executed well. Put a couple of bunts down that moved the runners over. Hester had a big double for us in the first,” Lady Rebels head coach Rick Fife said.

Hester’s double drove in two runs to give ACCS an early 2-0 advantage. After the Lady Rebels scored another run in the bottom of the second, Huntington pitcher Julie Moak settled down and pitched two straight scoreless innings to keep the Lady Hounds in the game.

“Moak pitched a real good game, especially in the middle innings,” Fife said. “Her change up was her out pitch. I really was impressed with how Huntington played.”

Moak allowed six runs on five hits, struck out five and walked five in a complete-game effort.

“The girls just needed some experience. They needed to play some ball. Given a few more games, they will continue to improve,” Huntington coach Rut Horne said.

Huntington (0-5) then got back in the game with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. But that was the only inning in which the Lady Hounds got to Sanders, who pitched for the Ferriday Dixie Belles at the Dixie Belles World Series just a few weeks ago.

Sanders held the Lady Hounds to just two hits while striking out six and scattering four walks as she went all six innings to pick up the win. She also went 2-for-4 at the plate.

“Mary pitched a real good game with six strikeouts. She had good command today,” Fife said.

ACCS ended Huntington’s comeback attempt by scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth inning and two more runs in the bottom of the sixth.

“I thought we played fairly well defensively,” Horne said. “We had a couple of overthrows that cost us a couple of runs. As far as ground balls and pop flies, we made those plays. We’re going to beat somebody. I don’t know who.”

ACCS will host Riverfield today in what will now be the District 3-AA opener. The junior varsity game will start at 4 p.m., followed by the varsity game at 5 p.m. ACCS was scheduled to begin district action last Tuesday at Prairie View Academy, but that was rained out and rescheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 16.

Huntington will continued its road schedule today when it returns to Natchez to take on Trinity Episcopal at the Natchez-Adams Girls Softball Complex. The JV game starts at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity game will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Oak Forest 4, Centreville 1

CENTREVILLE — One misplayed pop-up in the top of the third inning changed the momentum of the entire game and Oak Forest took advantage en route to a big win over Centreville in District 5-AA action Monday night.

The game was scoreless and it appeared that the Lady Tigers were going to get out of the top of the third unscathed. But with two outs and a runner on first base, they misplayed a pop-up to keep the rally going for the Lady Yellow Jackets.

Then C. Bennett doubled in two runs and scored on a base hit to give the visiting team a 3-0 lead.

“That was a big momentum swing for them,” Centreville head coach Mark Mann said. “Instead of us batting, we give up three runs with two outs.”

Centreville scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning, but Oak Forest got the back up to three runs in the top of the sixth. But the three-run rally by the Lady Yellow Jackets in the third inning was more than enough for winning pitcher A. Bush.

Bush went all seven innings and held the Lady Tigers to just two hits while striking out 11 and walking none.

“We went toe to toe with them. Bush threw a heck of a ball game and we didn’t make any adjustments,” Mann said. “That comes with the youth.”

Despite being the losing pitcher, Haley Mann pitched a good game of her own. She also went the distance, giving up six hits, striking out four and walking four.

“Haley threw the ball well. She got out of some jams. Needs to cut down on the walks,” coach Mann said. “We’ve been using three or four pitchers on the varsity.”

While Centreville dropped to 7-8 overall, both teams are now at 2-1 in district play.

Trinity Episcopal-WCCA game rained out

WOODVILLE — Last weekend’s rain forced the cancellation of Monday’s JV and varsity games between the Lady Saints and the Lady Rams.

Trinity’s game against Huntington today will the start of a five-game home-stand and the remainder of this stretch will be District 3-AA games. WCCA (9-2) hosts Centreville today with the JV game starting at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity game to follow at 6:45 p.m.