WEST POINT — Sometimes it is as easy as sling it or chunk it.
Julianne Jackson admits she doesn”t have an array of pitches, but Monday she showed a simple approach is extremely effective.
The junior right-hander pitched a complete-game three-hitter Monday to lead the Starkville Academy fast-pitch softball team to a 5-0 victory against Oak Hill Academy.
“Last year, I really didn”t pitch at all,” said Jackson, who played right field. “I didn”t think I was going to have to pitch at all this year, but I have been working on some things and have been working with (Mississippi State assistant coach) Karen Johns. I am not really surprised (at how well she is doing). I do have a lot of faith in myself and I try to work hard. It is the entire team. It is a great team. I am happy to be here.”
The victory helped the Lady Volunteers (3-2) get back at the Lady Raiders (3-1) after losing to them 8-3 Saturday at the Heritage Academy tournament.
Jackson pitched in that game as well as part of a 2-1 showing at the event, but she was much sharper Monday. She struck out three, walked none, allowed only four runners into scoring position, and faced the minimum number of batters through four innings.
Jackson said she learned how to spin the ball working with her father, Tom. She said she tries to hold the ball with a horseshoe grip on the laces and brings her hand across and traces her pelvis line. The result is a ball that looks like it is “slinged” or “chunked”, according to Jackson, and dances enough for Dickens to see the movement from the dugout.
“I try to take my time and count to a certain number before I pitch and let it go,” Jackson said. “I get the right feeling on the laces and try to throw it as best as I can. If I can work in a changeup or a curveball and it works out fine, I will try to do that. I have a lot of faith in my fastball, and it has really performed well for me, so I really try to go with that.”
Oak Hill Academy coach Marion Bratton said his team didn”t look like the same one that played a complete three games Saturday. He said the ups and downs are typical, especially early in the season, but he hopes the success his team had in its first three games doesn”t force it to lose focus.
“You”re as good as your last ballgame,” Bratton said. “It”s a Golden Triangle rivalry, and I told them Saturday, ”Ladies, they”re going to come after you Monday because yes, we won, but we made them mad.” I told them they better show up ready to play, and sometimes they don”t listen to coach”s advice.
“Mamie (Allen) threw well enough, but she has been crisper. I think Maegan (Ellis, stiff back) will be able to throw (today). That”s what we”re counting on. She can come in and give Mamie a little bit of a breather.”
Ellis had two hits and Allen had the other hit for Oak Hill Academy. But two baserunning hiccups erased potential scoring chances. Bratton also said the Lady Raiders need to be more selective at the plate, especially against a pitcher like Jackson.
“Their pitcher did a real good job. We took a lot of cuts out of the strike zone,” Bratton said. “Our pitch selection was not very good. We took a lot of cuts with the ball above our hands. You can”t be successful doing that. (Jackson) is a competitor. She doesn”t get rattled and comes right back at you. That”s what you want in your pitcher.”
Allen deserved a better fate. The sophomore right-hander surrendered only five hits, walked six, and struck out eight. Three walks (one intentional), a two-run single by Megan Aucoin, a throwing error on a fielder”s choice, and another fielder”s choice helped the Lady Volunteers score four runs in the top of the third.
That was all the offense Jackson needed. In addition to helping her cause with two hits, including a double, Jackson worked well with senior catcher Bailey Wofford, who caught her first full game of the season.
Starkville Academy coach Jessica Dickens said she moved Wofford from shortstop to catcher to capitalize on her throwing ability. Wofford worked well last season with senior pitcher Lyndsey Haynes. They worked so well together that they often didn”t have to use conventional signs to call pitches.
With Jackson, Dickens said she and Wofford often don”t call pitches. Instead, she encourages Jackson, who is in her second season at the school after being home-schooled earlier in her high school years, to take her time and to use her fastball until teams show they can hit it. When that happens, she said Jackson can use her spin to keep them off balance.
“The main concern going into this season was the pitching, losing Lyndsey,” Dickens said. “I cannot be any more tickled at Julianne”s performances in the last five games. I cannot ask for anything more. To have no walks in a game like this is huge. She continues to surprise me every game. I knew she could do it, but she is doing it leaps and bounds more than I thought she would. It is unbelievable.”
In other action Monday
n Carroll Academy 12, Heritage Academy 0: At Carrollton, Allie Lowe and Kristen Phillips had the only hits for the Lady Patriots (0-4).
The junior varsity team earned a 3-2 victory.
Phillips earned the victory, while Hannah Hawkins pitched well and also had a hit. Brooklyn Waldrep and Catelin McLain had hits and Shiloh Ellis added a home run.
n Kirk Academy 7, Hebron Christian 2: At Grenada, Hillary Arnold and Chloe Tapley scored runs in the top of the first inning for the Lady Eagles (5-3), but the Lady Raiders tied the game in the bottom half of the inning and pulled away.
Hebron Christian played without Jessica Fleming, who was out with a stomach virus.
Coach Cass Tapley said he moved Tori Nichols to first base and Magen Tapley to shortstop and both players played well.
The junior varsity team also lost.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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