DAILY LEADER / MARTY ALBRIGHT / Loyd Star’s Johnna Norman (20) slides home safely while West Lincoln’s catcher Layton Sills blocks the throw Thursday night.

The Loyd Star Lady Hornets have extended their winning steak to 13 games after rallying back in the bottom of the seventh inning to edge the West Lincoln Lady Bears 9-8 in Region 7-2A softball action Thursday night at Jan Smith Delaughter Field.

With the win, the Lady Hornets are in the driver’s seat to clinch the Region Crown with three region games left to play on the schedule. West Lincoln is currently in second place in the region race.

“I am happy to get the win,” said Loyd Star coach Jan Delaughter. “West Lincoln played a great game. I am very proud of my girls for fighting back in the bottom of the seventh inning by getting the hits they needed to secure the win.”

Loyd Star (15-1, 5-0) will resume action Saturday as they prepare to host a softball tournament. Bogue Chitto, Lawrence County, Brookhaven and Salem will be participating in the Lady Hornets tournament. Loyd Star will kick off the event against Salem, starting at 11 a.m.

West Lincoln (13-4, 5-2) will return to action Monday as they travel across Lincoln County to take on the Bogue Chitto Lady Cats for a make up game. Junior varsity action starts at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity game at 6 p.m. The Lady Bears were originally scheduled to host Franklin County today, but the Lady Bulldogs cancelled to make up a district game.

Loyd Star 9, West Lincoln 8 

The Lady Hornets and Lady Bears provided an thrilling contest for their softball fans as both team fought hard to clinch first place in the region race.

Loyd Star managed to break up the scoreless game early in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead.

West Lincoln answered Loyd Star’s challenge in the top of the third inning and trimmed down the Lady Hornets lead to 4-3. The Lady Bears later tied the game at 4-all in the fifth inning.

With the game still tied at 4-all going into the seventh inning, West Lincoln’s offense came alive and managed to claim their first lead of the game by pushing across four run across the plate to take a 8-4 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Lady Hornets, refusing to go down without a fight, sparked a rally to tie the game at 8-all before securing the win on a hard hit single to left center to score a runner from third base.

Ali Gartman pitched the win in relief for Loyd Star with one strikeout and no walks. Mackenzie Smith (2K, 2BB) started for the Lady Hornets.

Micah Redd suffered the setback in relief for West Lincoln with no strikeouts and two walks. Malori Hall (2K, 5BB) was the starting pitcher for the Lady Bears.

Senior Lexie Butler was the offensive leader for the Lady Hornets with a double and a single. Megan Norton contributed two singles. Hitting safely were Abigail Thornton, Madison Jones, Raigan Smith and Ali Gartman.

Hall powered the Lady Bears at the plate with a solo home run and a double. Destiny Allen provided three singles. Micah Redd ripped two doubles. Layton Sill had two singles. Hanna Moak and Peyton White hit safely.

In junior varsity action,  West Lincoln (10-1) crushed Loyd Star 8-1.

Megan Gerald (5K, 0BB) and Peyton White (0K, 0BB) combined effort on the mound helped West Lincoln secure the win.

Millane Lewis was the top hitter for the Lady Bears with two doubles and a single. Makennah Redd provided two singles. Anna Brooke Davis had a double. Hitting safely were Demesha Deer, McKenzie Pyles and Gerald.

Lesley Walker recorded the only hit for the Lady Hornets with a single.

DAILY LEADER / MARTY ALBRIGHT / Loyd Star’s senior Lexie Butler collects one of her two hits against West Lincoln Thursday night.