Lady Gators reach #19 in the power ratings
With some better weather, the Delhi Charter Lady Gators Softball team found a little momentum heading into the backend of the season. More importantly, they are at #19 in the latest power ratings.
The Ladies traveled to Union Parish to participate in the Lady Farmers Dirty Diamond Classic and came away with a 2-1 record thanks to wins over Simsboro (5-4) on a squeeze bunt from Madilyn Ashley that scored Emma Gloor in the bottom of the seventh Friday night and 15-0 win over Summerfield in the second game on Saturday. Senior pitcher Sierra Black picked up the win in both contests and suffered her only loss, giving up only 2 earned runs, in the middle game of the tournament with a 13-0 defeat at the hands of 3A North Webster. Freshman Kristin Hendry pitched four solid innings of relief giving up only 2 earned runs as well.
After the successful weekend at Union, the Lady Farmers traveled to Delhi for a Monday contest against the Lady Gators. Despite giving up a 3-run home run in the third inning, the DCS offense came alive and Black got the win in the circle 9-7. Black, Madelyn Cordell and Ashley scored 2 runs each to pace DCS offensively. The Lady Gators continued their hot streak the next day taking two games from the Kilbourne Lady Hawks, 10-0 in five innings and 16-5 in the final game.
Black once again did all the work in the circle giving up two earned runs and throwing 182 pitches in the two games including five strikeouts in each game against only one walk. Senior Madison McPherson and junior Alaina Sullivan spear-headed the offensive attack with two hits each in game one, while Ashely, Baylee Hutchinson and Hannah Pennington led the offense in game 2 with two hits and two runs each.
Following a few days off for spring break, DCS returned home to resume district play against the Mangham Lady Dragons and seemed to lose most of the momentum they had before spring break as they suffered a 13-2 loss to Mangham.
A trip to Farmerville to take on the Lady Farmers of Union Parish the next day was better but the Lady Farmers held on for a 6-5 win.
The losing streak stretched to three games as DCS dropped another district contest to the OCS Lady Eagles 14-2 which included giving up 9 runs in the first inning.
The Lady Gators now stand at 9-10 on the season but more importantly are at #19 in the LHSAA power ratings with one game remaining. That one game is a district contest against the St. Fredrick Lady Warriors and will be senior night. DCS’ four seniors will be recognized including pitcher Sierra Black, second baseman Emily Wyatt, catcher Madilyn Ashley, and first baseman Madison McPherson.