It makes you wonder if the twelve girls from Jackson Parish didn’t have a collective flashback to the district 5 tournament they won two weeks ago. They certainly responded the same way. The result was a scintillating 10-9 rally past Vidalia in their second game of the Little League State 12u Softball Tournament being played in Broussard, LA. It marked the second straight victory for the locals who opened the tourney by pounding out 12 hits and riding a near perfect pitching performance to take an easy 15-2, five inning victory over Avoyelles Parish.
Walk this way! Down 9-4 in the bottom of the fifth Jackson Parish took advantage of wildness by Vidalia pitching to wrap seven free passes around a double by Emma Walker and a triple by Adysen Breeland to force a tie heading into the sixth inning. For the game Jackson Parish coaxed 13 walks
Stay right here! Vidalia opened the sixth with a triple and a walk but that was as far as they got. Breanna Lamkin who went the distance for the second straight game, struck out the next batter and then forced a shallow fly to right fielder Morgan Cheatwood. That set up a bunt attempt that was fielded by catcher Avery Watson who threw to first to preserve the tie.
Game winner! Zoee Williams opened the bottom of the sixth inning by taking four straight balls to advance to first and then stealing second. Then with a 2-1 count, Watson stroked a line shot to center that scored Williams with the game winner.
Lamkin throws a gem! Jackson Parish scored two runs in the first inning and added five in the second but one was all that would have been needed in the 15-2 romps over Avoyelles who was limited to just one hit by Breanna Lamkin in the tourney opener. The staff “ace” struck out 11 and walked just one over five innings and helped her cause by going 1/1, scoring three times and coaxing four walks.
Grand theft! When Jackson Parish wasn’t walking (13 base on balls) they were running to the tune of 13 stolen bases led by four from Lily Jones. Lamkin, and Williams swiped a pair and Walker, Watson, Allie Robertson, Cheatwood and Breeland stole one each.
Walker, Williams and Watson! Sounds like a law firm but they needed no defense after their offensive onslaught. Walker led the hit parade with three singles that plated four runs while scoring three. Watson got two hits as did Williams who drove in three and scored a pair.
Next up! Jackson Parish now gets to rest until Monday at 8:00pm where they will play the winner of Eastbank (New Orleans) and Lake Charles in the finals of the winners bracket. A victory puts them in the championship game set for next Wednesday while a loss would drop them into the elimination bracket for a 6pm contest on Tuesday.
To report an issue or typo with this article – CLICK HERE
