Lady Cougars claim title

SUMMIT-North Pike and Lawrence County were both winners when the two teams met Tuesday night in Division 7-4A high school softball action.

North Pike won the game, edging LCHS 4-1. But the Lady Cougars claimed the bigger prize, as Lawrence County claimed the division title, and a number-one seed in the upcoming slow-pitch playoffs.

Lawrence County won the division by virtue of the Lady Cougars’ 13-8 win over North Pike back on Sept. 12. The Lady Jaguars needed to beat Lawrence County by 6 runs on Tuesday, in order to claim the division.

Defense and homeruns dominated Tuesday’s game. All of North Pike’s runs came via the long ball. Madison Bigner hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the first. Jordan Fitzgerald and Allie Summers later hit solo shots. Fitzgerald and McKenzie Brock each had two hits for the Lady Jaguars.

The bats fell silent for Meleah Howard’s normally heavy-hitting Lady Cougars. Alyssa Pendergrass, Elizabeth Smith, and Barri Rogers had singles for LCHS, and Jazmin Thomas drove in Lawrence County’s lone run with a third-inning sacrifice fly.

It was an excellent defensive game. Lawrence County’s defense was flawless, and that’s what kept the Lady Cougars close on a night when they generated very little offense. Left fielder Cierra Horton’s grab of Sarah Brock’s wicked shot in the first inning foiled a potentially big first inning for North Pike.

North Pike’s defense was also strong, with Brock, at second base, having a particularly strong game.

The slow pitch playoffs will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

In JV action, North Pike roars past Lawrence County 6-1.

Jenna Brock directed the Lady Jaguars with two singles. Hitting safely were Jami Spears, Whitney Howell, Janiah Talbert, Briana Rimes and Katelin Brent.