Cathedral softball wins district

Published 12:01 am Saturday, April 16, 2011

Resurrection Catholic School's Leanna Engel tries to tag Cathedral's Claire Upton during their game Friday afternoon at Cathedral. (Eric J. Shelton \ The Natchez Democrat)

NATCHEZ — The Cathedral School softball team’s toughest play Friday happened when the players tried to dump ice water on their head coach.

The Lady Green Wave swept Resurrection Catholic School from Pascagoula in a doubleheader, securing Cathedral a first-place finish in MHSAA District 8-1A.

It marked the Lady Green Wave’s second district title in a row, and the Cathedral girls chased head coach Gary Blackwell around with a Gatorade cooler, trying to give him a victory bath. One player finally caught him on the shirt, allowing another player to do the honors.

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“This feels great,” Blackwell said afterward. “These girls work really, really hard, so they deserve it. We had to get (these two wins) to make sure, so now we can celebrate.”

Cathedral won game one 17-0 and game two 20-0. Pitcher Mollie Devening surrendered the only Resurrection baserunner with a walk in game one. No one else reached base for the Lady Eagles in either game.

Cathedral backed Devening in game one with six runs in the first inning and 11 runs in the second inning. The game was called after the top of the third due to the 15-runs-after-three mercy rule.

Devening had six strikeouts for her three-inning no-hitter. She also had two doubles at the plate and finished 2-for-3 in game one.

Beth Fortenberry went 2-for-3 with two doubles, and Kimble Devening finished 2-for-3 with a double. Payton Monticello and Shannon Mire both were 2-for-2.

In game two, Ginny Daggett was perfect for three innings, striking out four Lady Eagles.

“We wanted (Mollie Devening and Daggett) to throw strikes, and they threw strikes,” Blackwell said. “Ginny hasn’t been pitching as much as Mollie has this season, but she did her job. It’s good that we can count on her to step up.”

Beth Fortenbery was 3-for-3 in game two with a double. Wesley Anderson was 2-for-3 with a double, and McKenzie Milligan and Sallie Stout both finished 3-for-4.

Cathedral (16-8, 3-1) will play in the Bogue Chitto High School tournament today against McComb and Salem high schools. The Lady Green Wave will return home Monday to take on Wesson High School.

“We haven’t beaten McComb yet, so we’re out for a little revenge,” Blackwell said. “We have three good contests (coming up) that will help get us ready for the playoffs.”