WCCA wins soggy game
Published 12:27 am Friday, August 21, 2009
NATCHEZ — Wilkinson County head softball coach Ray Olive said he had mixed feelings about his team even after an 8-2 win against Adams County Christian on Thursday.
In a soggy game that forced both teams to deal with slippery field conditions, Olive was both complimentary and critical of his players.
“I like the fact that we played a scrappy, good team in ACCS and won,” Olive said. “We played in rainy, wet conditions and overcame both the elements and a good team.
“However, we need to learn to make routine plays better. Our pitchers are pitching well, but we make errors about three times a game.”
Lady Rams’ starter Bethany Fletcher pitched six strong innings, yielding just two runs in the bottom of the first inning.
“The game started in the rain, and she was forced to overcome a wet ball,” Olive said. “Once the rain stopped, she settled down.”
WCCA came out firing, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. The Lady Rams added three more runs in the top of the second inning when Caroline Walker, Mary Netterville and Taylor Littleton each crossed home plate on RBI base hits.
Walker, Fletcher and Sarah Hendry scored three more runs for the Lady Rams in the top of the sixth, two on RBI singles and one on an RBI groundout.
Despite the eight runs, Olive said he still wants something more out of his players with runners on base.
“We utilized team speed, stole some bases, and were able to score runs that way,” Olive said. “But we need to be more aggressive in our at-bats with runners in scoring position. We can’t go up to the plate looking to take a walk.”
Lady Rebels’ head coach Forrest Foster said after the loss that he wasn’t going to use the weather as an excuse for his team’s performance.
“It didn’t affect us at all,” Foster said. “Both teams played on the wet field. We just couldn’t throw strikes.”
Foster also called out his players on what he felt was a lack of effort.
“They need to realize that you have to show up every day with a desire to win,” Foster said. “Talent alone isn’t going to cut it.”
WCCA improved to 8-2 on the season, 4-0 in district play.
ACCS fell to 5-6 on the season, 4-0 in district play.