MONTICELLO-Mother Nature turned out to be the biggest winner in a season-opening slow-pitch softball jamboree at Lawrence County High School. Six schools, including the host Lady Cougars, were slated to play a total of six 4-inning games. Only four games were played, however, as an afternoon thunderstorm shortened the day.

In the opener, Meleah Howard’s Lawrence County girls scratched across 2 fourth-inning runs to edge Franklin County, 2-0, in a defensive battle. In the fourth, consecutive singles by Tiera Collins, Jamie Martin, Alexsundria Thomas, and Cierra Horton, and a sacrifice fly by Lexie Johnson, produced the game’s only runs.

“It was a good day,” said Howard, who coached the Lady Cougars to banner seasons in both slow pitch and fastpitch action last school year. “Obviously, we wish we’d have gotten all of our games in, but each team got to play at least one game.”

In the second 4-inning scrimmage, Bogue Chitto and Brookhaven battled to a 2-2 tie. Game 3 saw Franklin County explode offensively in a 16-1 rout of South Pike. Bogue Chitto then edged Raliegh 10-7, overcoming an early deficit.

The final two games were washed out. Ole Brook and South Pike were just underway when the rains came. Host Lawrence County was slated to wrap up the day against Raliegh.

The season begins in earnest this week, as virtually all area teams who play slow pitch softball will open play.