St. Al picks up two wins in Saturday’s tournament

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The St. Aloysius softball team picked up two wins Saturday in tournament play, defeating Benton Academy and Jackson Academy.

“Today’s wins were great and we came out fired up and we just did what we know how to do,” Madison Spencer said. “If we come out and play like we did today we’ll do some damage on Monday.”

In game one, the Lady Flashes earned a close 3-2 win over Benton Academy. The game remained scoreless until the third inning, when Madison Spencer hit a double that drove in Madelyn Kavanaugh. After a single from Mallory Spencer, an error allowed Presley Brister to score, followed by Kennadi Blassingame scoring on another error to make it 3-0.

Benton got on the board in the fourth after a single from Greco, then added its final run on an RBI single by Blackstop. That wasn’t enough to overcome the Flashes, who held on for the win.

Madison Spencer (1 RBI) went 2-for-3, and Mallory Spencer went 2-for-2. Lynlee McMillin, Ruthie Britton, Kavanaugh, and Megan Theriot each had one hit. Mallory Spencer struck out seven batters in the win.

In game two, St. Al run-ruled Jackson Academy 18-2.

Jackson scored first when Williams was hit by a pitch. The Lady Flashes responded with eight runs in the first inning, beginning with doubles from Madison Spencer and Kavanaugh. Three straight batters were hit by pitches, adding runs, and Mallory Spencer capped off the inning with a two-run single to make it 8-1.

St. Al added 10 more runs in the second inning as their bats stayed hot. The inning featured multiple walks, singles from Analeigh Herring and Blassingame, a two-run single from Britton, and a one-run double from Mallory Spencer. Sophomore Mageigh Haller also hit a two-run triple and finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs.

“My hard work over the summer finally paid off,” Haller said. “I’ve been working in the cages, and all the little drills finally came together and paid off.”

Madison Spencer went 2-for-2 with four RBIs, and Herring went 2-for-2 with one RBI. Theriot (1 RBI), Kavanaugh (2 RBIs), Britton (2 RBIs), Blassingame, and Mallory Spencer (1 RBI) each had one hit.

Joy Dement struck out three batters in the win, and Kavanaugh struck out one. The wins improved St. Al’s record to 6-2 under head coach Mike Foley. The Lady Flashes will host Copiah Academy on Monday.

Porter’s Chapel Academy dropped two games, falling 11-1 to Tallulah Academy and 12-2 to Manchester Academy. Tallulah also tied Manchester 5-5 in another game. Benton Academy defeated Jackson Academy 11-9. Lauren Rae Davis had a hit in each game.