NATCHEZ — The best defense may be a good offense, but thanks to doing both well, the Adams County Christian softball team won its first MAIS District 5-AA game.

The Lady Rebels secured an 8-5 win against Wilkinson County Christian in six innings, and ACCS head coach Forrest Foster said he was happy to see his team play such a complete game.

“We did two things today that I’ve known all along we could do: We came out playing good defense and absolutely pounded the softball,” Foster said.

“It was a good all-around team effort. They have a quality pitcher (in Bethany Fletcher), and they won district with her last year, so you know she’s good.”

And Foster was especially pleased with the way sophomore second baseman Braxtyn Elveston fielder her position.

“I’d give her the game ball. She had good hands and moved to the ball really well. She was very confident, and every ball hit to her was an out,” Foster said.

ACCS’ Mary Sanders was the winning pitcher Thursday, while Fletcher took the loss.

WCCA head coach Ray McDaniel said he was impressed with the effort the Lady Rebels put fourth against his team.

“I give all the credit to them, they came out and played well,” McDaniel said.

“We didn’t hit the ball like we needed to. They have a good little pitcher (in Sanders) who kept us off balance. We didn’t get a lot of good swings off of her.”

Foster was also complimentary of his pitcher.

“Mary did a good job hitting her spots. They hit a few balls hard into the outfield, but that’s going to happen. When you score eight runs, it’s hard for anyone to beat you,” Foster said.

Fletcher and Caroline Walker scored WCCA’s first two runs in the top of the first to start the game. The Lady Rebels responded in the bottom half of the inning when Sanders reached first base on a strikeout, scoring Kaitlan Melton.

In the bottom of the second, ACCS added four more runs when Melton doubled in Shelby Guice and Nikki Worthy, and Melton and Kylie Powell scored on a passed ball, giving ACCS a 5-2 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, a fielder’s choice by Sanders brought home Melton and Katie Russ, making the score 7-2 ACCS.

The Lady Rams scored three runs in the top of the fifth when Herrington scored on a fielder’s choice by Mary Kathryn Doucet. Fletcher then doubled in Doucet and Caroline Walker, cutting ACCS’ lead to two points.

The Lady Rebels scored one more run in the bottom of the fifth on an error. With two outs and Elveston on third, Mary Sanders hit a grounder to the pitcher, but the first baseman was unable to field it, allowing Elveston to score.

“We just have to make routine plays. We can’t give a good team like ACCS six outs an inning. To their credit, they capitalized on it,” McDaniel said.

ACCS (4-4, 1-2) and WCCA (1-1, 1-1) will both play in the Liberty Tournament at Amite School Center at 9 a.m. Saturday. ACCS will take on Oak Forest, and WCCA will face Bowling Green.