STARKVILLE — Starkville Academy and Central Academy posted the only victories Saturday by local teams at the Starkville Academy tournament at the Mississippi State Recreation Complex.
Oak Hill and Heritage Academy lost both of their games in the tournament.
Starkville Academy opened the day with a 6-4 victory against Central Academy, but it lost its next two games to Leake Academy (2-1) and to Pillow Academy and was ousted from the double-elimination event.
“It has been a long week. We played seven games in the last nine days and I think it is a good start for us,” Starkville Academy coach Jessica Dickens said. “I am pretty pleased with where we are and where we are heading, and I am proud of the girls. They never quit and played hard despite fatigue. They”re getting mentally tough.”
Dickens also praised the pitching performances of junior Julianne Jackson. She said Jackson will get two days off before taking the circle at 4 p.m. Tuesday when the team plays host to Washington School for its home opener.
“This last week has prepared us for what were going to see in conference. We have seen some good pitching,” Dickens said.
Starkville Academy beat Kemper Academy 3-1 on Thursday and lost to Leake Academy 1-0 on Friday.
For Central Academy, Kellie Hailey had two doubles, Blake Rigdon had a single and a double, and Kendall Taylor singled against Starkville Academy.
The Lady Vikings rebounded in their next game for a 13-4 victory against Heritage Academy. Hailey had a single and a triple, and Rigdon, Taylor, Sadie Lindsey, and Katie Cumberland singled.
Winston Academy eliminated Central Academy with an 8-4 victory.
Rigdon had two singles and Megan Banks had a single.
“My little girls are hanging in there,” Central Academy coach Sammy Lindsey. “Everything is promising and looking good. We just have to turn those close losses into wins.”
Paige Buchanan pitched all three games for the Lady Vikings.
On Thursday, Central Academy lost to Winston Academy 13-10.
Kendall Taylor had a triple, and Hailey, Rigdon, and Kayla Brown singled.
Central Academy plays host to Oak Hill Academy on Tuesday.
Oak Hill Academy lost to Winston Academy and to Pillow Academy in its two games.
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