SPRING UPDATE: PCA softball tops St. James; MA baseball splits two
St. James’ KK Hall tags out Alivia Messick in the Lady Trojans’ win over PCA on Tuesday. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
Tuesday’s game between St. James and Prattville Christian shaped up as a battle between teams from different classifications who could challenge for their respective area titles at the end of the regular season.
There was one big difference, however. The Trojans had no answer for Landyn McAnnally.
The PCA senior continued her mastery of the Trojans, holding the St. James offense to one hit over 5.1 innings while striking out nine in a 6-0 win at St. James on Tuesday.
“Last year, she didn’t come out of the gate pitching very well and then we lost the season (to coronavirus),” PCA coach Randy Stough said. “So she understands, this year, how important it is to come out and pitch with intensity in every game. She has really worked hard and is pitching well right now.”
McAnnally remained unbeaten in her career against St. James, getting all the offense she would need in the first inning when Arielle Williams hit a solo home run over the right field fence for a 1-0 lead. The Panthers added two more runs in the second, another pair in the fourth and a final run on a solo home run by Riley Sweeney, who went 3 for 4 with three RBIs.
St. James coach Mark Hall acknowledged his team may have been a little intimidated in facing McAnnally again.
“My team didn’t have much energy,” he said. “That may be the second-best pitcher we’ve seen this year and we’re 10 days in from basketball with all my players. The more we see good pitching, the more it will benefit us later.”
Sweeney’s two-run single in the second made it 3-0 and Payson Hanson’s RBI single in the fourth made it 5-0 as Williams went 2 for 3 and drove in a pair of runs and McAnnally went 2 for 3, but the Panthers went just 3 for 10 with runners in scoring position during the game.
“We left too many in scoring position,” Stough said. “We watched too many good pitches tonight. I like for our team to be more aggressive at the plate.”
Sweeney pitched the final 1.2 innings in relief of McAnnally and looked just as dominating, retiring the final five batters in order and striking out two.
“We’ve got to play good defense behind other pitchers as well,” Stough said. “We’ve done that when Landyn is pitching but we haven’t done it as well when others are pitching. We’ve got to grow up in that area and once we do that, I think we’re going to get better and better as the year goes on.”
Cam Greene took the loss in the circle for the Trojans, but Bellah Bright’s single in the bottom of the first was the only offensive support. Seventh grader Emily Needham pitched the final three innings, striking out seven.
“She’s kind of the story of our team right now,” Hall said. “She’s 12 years old and initially I was wondering whether I should put her on varsity. She’s played in a JV tournament and probably five or six JV games but after this weekend (at the Wetumpka tournament) where she struck out 17, she’s probably one of my top two pitchers.”
Needham only allowed one hit, a solo home run by Sweeney in the sixth.
“I called a pitch she’s been working on,” Hall said. “Obviously, she needs to work a little harder on it.”
And while the 4A Trojans didn’t looked very impressive on Tuesday, one of 3A’s best pitchers had a lot to do with their lack of offense
“They haven’t played many because of a deep run in basketball,” Stough said. “I saw a little of them in the (Wetumpka) tournament last weekend and they beat some good teams and played real well against some other teams, so I was concerned they would be swinging the bats aggressively. That’s one reason Landyn pitched today.”
PCA (9-4) will play host to Trinity in an area game on Thursday at 5 p.m. before hosting its annual tournament this weekend. St. James (6-2) will play Holtville on Thursday before competing in the PCA tournament this weekend.
Photo: Undefeated MA No. 1 doubles team of Hamilton Chapman (seated) and Whit Davis
BASEBALL
St. James 11, Montgomery Academy 9
Saint James built an early eight-run lead and had to hold on as the Eagles had the potential tying runs in scoring position in the seventh inning, but the Trojans evened their season record at 6-6 with their fourth straight victory.
The Trojans scored two in the bottom of the first inning as K.J. Jackson singled in Ethan Beard, who led off with a double, and Carson Howard singled and later scored on a Tyson Eley sacrifice fly.
MA (3-4-1) added a run in the top of the second on a pair of walks, a stolen base and an RBI groundout by Luke Nelson.
Saint James sent 13 men to the plate in the third inning and scored seven runs on seven hits to take a 9-1 lead. Beard's second double of the game knocked in two. He would have three hits, as would Zac Russell and Eley in the game.
The teams traded runs in the fourth inning before the Eagles would score three in the top of the fifth on a bases-clearing double by starting pitcher Thomas Woodward. Saint James added what appeared to be a mere insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a Russell single to knock in Kevin Taylor.
MA started the top of the seventh trailing 11-5 with a pair of walks which were followed by two quick outs. Luke Nelson kept the game alive with a two-run double to cut the lead to four. Woodward and Walton Norrell followed with singles to knock in Nelson. Another single by Ridge Lindsey scored Woodward and a wild pitch put runners on second and third. However, Foster Rasmussen managed to strike out Carter Wallis to end what became a thrilling game.
Montgomery Academy 14, Alabama Christian 4
Britton Kohn held the ACA bats to three hits and one earned run over 4.1 innings while striking out five to lead the Eagles to a 14-4 win over Alabama Christian on Monday.
Beau Smith picked up the save in relief of Kohn, pitching the final 1.2 innings and striking out two while allowing six hits and three earned runs.
Montgomery Academy had five extra-base hits while driving in 14 runs in the win as Kohn went 2 for 3 with three RBIs, Ridge Lindsey went 1 for 3 with three RBIs, Harris Gowan was 1 for 1 with a pair of RBIs while also drawing a walk and getting hit by a pitch in his plate appearances and Luke Nelson was 1 for 3 with a pair of RBIs.
Montgomery Academy (3-3-1) returns home to play Pike Road on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Macon East Academy 19, Abbeville Christian 2
ABBEVILLE -- Wade Desmarais scattered five hits and a pair of runs while striking out five and walking one in four innings to help the Knights to an easy victory over the Generals on Tuesday.
Gunner Justice and Khamani Driver each had a pair of hits to lead Macon East, while Jabe Boroff had four RBIs. Macon East also forced fourteen walks and five hit-by-pitches.
Macon East (9-5) plays at Chambers Academy on Thursday at 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL
LAMP 5, Catholic 1
MaKenzie Norton had a pair of hits and scored the Knights’ only run in a 5-1 loss to LAMP on Tuesday. Chloe Walden also had one stolen base for the Knights.
Carissa Gilbert took the loss in the circle, giving up 10 hits and striking out 9 batters in seven innings of work.
LAMP improved to 10-3 with the win, while Catholic dropped to 6-5-1. The Knights return to action on Thursday at Pike Road at 3:30 p.m.
Prattville Christian 10, Verbena 0 (5)
PRATTVILLE -- Alivia Messick and Lara Beth NeSmith combined to pitch a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts as the Panthers cruised to a five-inning victory over Verbena on Monday.
Chloe Hollon went 3 for 3 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs, Sally Swindall went 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles, Saniyah Weaver went 2 for 3 and Arielle Williams drove in three runs.
PCA (8-4) will travel to Montgomery on Tuesday to play St. James in a game starting at 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Montgomery Academy 4, Trinity 0
Montgomery Academy got three goals from Leighton Robertson to remain unbeaten with a 4-0 win over Trinity at home on Tuesday.
With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Robertson opened her account for the night after quick thinking by Kaitlin Phenix with a throw in. The second half was a lot more one sided in favor of MA. Leighton Robertson added two more goals to complete a hat trick and Hayes Jenkins rounded off the scoring. Norah Desautels made some great saves to earn a fifth shutout of the season.
MA coach Joseph White called it “a game of two halves today. I thought the first half was incredibly close, with Trinity causing us problems. However, the second half was much more one sided and deserved the win. I look forward to starting area play against ACA on Friday.”
BOYS TENNIS
Montgomery Academy 9, Altamont 0
The Eagles posted their third consecutive 9-0 score this season, sweeping Altamont in both singles and doubles competition on Tuesday at Montgomery Academy.
Singles winners for MA were Hamilton Chapman, Whit Davis, Guy Hughes, John Alford, Easton Strickler, Picasso Avezzano and Coleman McIntyre. Doubles winners were Chapman-Davis, Hughes-Gaines Freeman and Alford-Jackson Brown.
Montgomery Academy (4-2) travels to Mobile to play in the annual McGill-Toolen Invitational Tournament this weekend, one of the biggest high school tournaments in the South.
GIRLS TENNIS
Trinity 9, Wetumpka 0
The Wildcats swept the singles competition by identical 6-0, 6-0 scores in every match and continued their domination in doubles for a 9-0 win over the Indians on Monday.
In singles, Sydney Speagle defeated Madison Corkran at No. 1, Hollister Dorey defeated Kara Lightner at No. 2, Mary Elizabeth Hill defeated Rebekah Forbus at No. 3, Margaret Roby defeated Kiley Sisson at No. 4, Stella Grayson defeated Elsa Stubbs at No. 5 and Kensley Williamson defeated Jocelyn Ziglar at No. 6.
In doubles, Dorey-Hill beat Corkran-Lightner at No. 1, Roby-Speagle beat Sisson-Stubbs at No. 2 and Grayson-Williamson beat Forbus-Ziglar at No. 3.
Trinity 9, Prattville Christian Academy 0
The Wildcats swept both singles and doubles competition to defeat the Panthers on Friday.
In singles, Sydney Speagle defeated Sydney Jorgensen at No. 1, Hollister Dorey defeated Emily Kamykowski at No. 2, Mary Elizabeth Hill defeated Lilli Edwards at No. 3, Margaret Roby defeated Gracie Fuller at No. 4, Stella Grayson defeated Boston King at No. 5 and Kensley Williamson defeated Caroline Schumpert at No. 6.
In doubles, Dorey-Hill beat Jorgensen-Kamykowski at No. 1, Roby-Speagle beat Edwards-Amanda Lamar at No. 2 and Grayson-Williamson beat King-Schumpert at No. 3.
Montgomery Academy 9, LAMP 0
The Eagles remain undefeated and unchallenged after downing the Golden Tigers 9-0 at Montgomery Academy on Monday afternoon.
In singles competition, Gabby Barrera defeated Kathleen Doyle 8-0; Jenna Chandler defeated Reena Chen 8-0; MaeMae Voltz defeated Kangyon Park 8-1; McRae Freeman defeated Lily Tears 8-1; Kareena Singh defeated Jennifer Kim 8-1; and Clara Ryan defeated Selina Chin 8-4.
In doubles competition, Chandler-Voltz beat Doyle-Reena Chen 8-1; Freeman-Barrera beat Tears-Kim 8-2; and Cate Peeples-MaryLee Kelso beat Selena Chin-Rachel Yun 8-1.