Pisgah Jackson County Champs
It took three games between the North Jackson Lady Chiefs and the Pisgah Lady Eagles to settle the 2019 Jackson County Softball Championship Saturday, April 27, but in the end, Pisgah came out on top. North Jackson fell behind early and couldn’t come back in a 6-2 game one loss after the Lady Eagles took the lead on a single in the first inning. Pisgah got on the board first when Macy Anderson singled on a 0-2 count, scoring one run. The Lady Eagles scored five runs in the fifth inning. Kennedy Barron, Lila Kate Wheeler, and Taylor McBride each had RBIs in the big inning. Barron took the win for Pisgah. She lasted five innings, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out five. Josie Thompson took the loss for the Lady Chiefs. She lasted five innings, allowing seven hits and six runs while striking out four. Amber Atkins went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead North Jackson in hits while Jaden Burgess led the Lady Eagles with two hits in two at-bats.
The Lady Chiefs survived the loser’s bracket and met Pisgah again late in the day with a sense of urgency. North Jackson took the lead late and defeated the Lady Eagles 6-5 forcing a third game. Game two was tied at four with the Lady Chiefs batting in the bottom of the fifth when Thompson singled on a 2-2 count, scoring one run. Thompson led North Jackson to victory by driving in four runs. She went 3-for-3 at the plate. Thompson drove in runs on a home run in the third and a single in the fifth. Pisgah got things moving in the first inning when an error scored one run for the Lady Eagles. In the top of the fourth inning, Pisgah tied things up at four. Wheeler hit a solo homer.
The Lady Chiefs put up three runs in the third inning. Thompson had an RBI home run in the inning to lead the run scoring. Thompson earned the win for North Jackson. She went seven innings, allowing five runs on nine hits, striking out two and walking one. Leigha Kirby took the loss for Pisgah. She surrendered six runs on eight hits over five innings, striking out six and walking one. The Lady Chiefs launched one home run on the day. Thompson had a dinger in the third inning. North Jackson totaled nine hits in the game. Thompson and Ja’khia Hutchins all collected multiple hits for the Lady Chiefs. Thompson led North Jackson with three hits in three at-bats. Pisgah racked up nine hits in the game. Wheeler and Kaley Vaught all had multiple hits for Pisgah. Wheeler went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Lady Eagles in hits.
Game three saw the Lady Chiefs facing a 5-run deficit in the second inning, North Jackson almost came back, eventually falling 10-8 to Pisgah on Saturday. The Lady Chiefs scored seven runs in the failed comeback. North Jackson was right in it until Pisgah doubled in the seventh inning. In the first inning, Pisgah got their offense started, scoring one run when Anderson singled. The Lady Chiefs put up six runs in the third inning. Singles led the rally by Thompson and Jones and a home run by Barnes. Barron pitched Pisgah to victory. She allowed seven hits and seven runs over six innings, striking out seven. Kirby threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Kirby recorded the last three outs to earn the save for Pisgah. Hadley Burnette took the loss for North Jackson. She lasted five and two-thirds innings, allowing eight hits and four runs while striking out one. Thompson started the game for the Lady Chiefs. She surrendered six runs on seven hits over one and one-third innings, walking zero. North Jackson socked one home run on the day. Barnes had a dinger in the third inning. Thompson went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Lady Chiefs in hits. Pisgah tallied 15 hits in the game. Annie Hughes, Kirby, Vaught, Bella Bobo, and Barron all managed multiple hits for Pisgah. Hughes led Pisgah with three hits in four at-bats.
