The Lauren Veach era began this week as the ACA softball season kicked off with a home and home against Elmore County and a weekend tournament in Greenville. The Lady Eagles are very young and inexperienced as only two players, with significant playing time, from last year’s final four team return and nine of the twelve players are freshmen or younger. Despite a rough start the Eagles finished 4-3 for the week with a top four finish in tournament play.
2/22 Elmore County
The bats were held in check as Elmore County blanked the Eagles in the season opener, 11-0. ACA was held to one hit and had only one serious threat to score in the game. Panther pitchers recorded 13 strikeouts on the afternoon. Alabama Christian’s lone hit was by Annabelle Pugh in the fourth inning of the contest.
Annabelle Pugh bats against Elmore County in the season opener.
2/24 at Elmore County
For the second straight game the ACA bats were silenced by Elmore County’s pitching. The home standing Panthers scored in four of the five innings in a 10-0 victory over Alabama Christian. The Eagle attack again mustered just one hit as Maddie Traywick singled in the top of the fourth. ACA never had more than one base runner in any inning.
Izzy Warrick tries to tag the runner out at second.
2/25 Samson
Head Coach Lauren Veach won her first game as leader of the softball program as ACA defeated Samson 4-3 in the opening contest of the weekend tournament in Greenville. The Lady Eagles scored two runs in the top of the first as Izzy Warrick plated Campbell Hammett with an infield ground out and Annabelle Pugh scored on a passed ball. Samson tied it up in the bottom of the fifth and Alabama Christian regained the lead in the top of the sixth as Pugh led off with a double and scored on an Izzy Warrick single to left. The Tigers tied it again in the bottom half to send the game to extra innings. Lily Sconyers knocked in the game winner with a bunt single for the 4-3 triumph.
Annabelle Pugh legs out an infield hit.
Annabelle Pugh led the offense with a 3 for 3 performance with a double, two stolen bases and two runs scored. Lily Sconyers finished 2 for 3 with the key RBI in the game. Izzy Warrick starred in the circle with a complete game win with ten strikeouts and only one walk. The freshman also drove in two of the team’s four runs.
Izzy Warrick picks up the win against Samson.
The offense exploded in game two of the night with fifteen runs in a three-inning 15-1 blowout of Valley. ACA scored seven runs in the first frame as the offense recorded five hits and took advantage of four walks and a hit batter. The batters continued to apply pressure to the Rams as Alabama Christian scored four runs each in the second and third innings.
The Eagles celebrate a scoreless first inning against Valley.
Maddie Traywick pitched two innings to pick up the win while Anna Williams made her pitching debut for the Eagles in the third. Anna Gleason and Izzy Warrick both had two hits to lead the team while six different Lady Eagles scored two runs in the game. Gleason and Traywick both drove in two runs. Annabelle Pugh played in her 100th game for the Alabama Christian program.
Anna Gleason gets a first inning hit.
2/26 Pike County at Greenville Tournament
The Eagles’ momentum carried over from Friday night as they beat Pike County 8-3, aided by seven Bulldog errors. ACA scored in all five innings and applied consistent pressure on the Pike County defense. Anna Williams, who made her pitching debut in the previous game, got the start and her first win as an Eagle. Izzy Warick picked up the save as she dominated in her three innings of work with four strikeouts and retiring all nine batters she faced. Warrick also starred at the plate with two hits in three at bats with three runs scored. Annabelle Pugh scored two runs and Campbell Hammett stole three bases in the victory.
Anna Williams gets her first start in the circle.
2/26 Trinity
ACA finished 3-0 in pool play and gained the top seed as the teams prepared for single elimination bracket play. The Lady Eagles faced in-town rival Trinity in the quarterfinals. The Wildcats opened the game with a solo homer, but Alabama Christian responded with a two-run shot in the bottom half to take a 2-1 lead. Anna Williams continued her breakout weekend with the homer to left to give the Eagles the lead. Trinity tied the game in the third, but once again ACA answered as Williams drove in her third run of the game and Maddie Traywick added another RBI single for a 4-2 advantage. With two outs in the top of the fifth, Alabama Christian committed errors on three straight plays to allow Trinity to take a 5-4 lead. Just like the previous two times the Wildcats scored, ACA answered in the bottom half of the inning as Annabelle Pugh scored on a wild pitch to tie it and Lily Sconyers drove in two with a single to center for the 7-5 win.
Anna Williams enjoys a stroll around the bases after her first homer.
Izzy Warrick pitched a complete game and struck out nine Wildcats to earn the victory and scored three runs to help her cause. Anna Williams was 2 for 2 with a homer and three RBIs while Maddie Traywick finished 2 for 3 with a run driven in. ACA had five different players steal bases as they showed their speed on the bases.
Maddie Traywick waits at first base for the next pitch.
2/26 Red Level
The Eagles advanced to face Red Level in the semifinal round. ACA jumped out to a 1-0 lead after one as Anna Williams singled in Izzy Warrick. The Tigers took the lead in the third with a two-run homer for the one run lead. Annabelle Pugh scored the tying run in the bottom half as Alabama Christian continued to answer after an opponent scored. Red Level hit a solo shot in the fourth and scored two more runs in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. The Lady Eagles responded with three runs to send the game to extra innings. Campbell Hammett, Pugh and Warrick scored on two infield ground outs and a steal of home to tie it up. Red Level scored on an error in the sixth inning and ACA was unable to answer as the Tigers advanced to the finals with the 6-5 victory.
Izzy Warrick led the team at the plate with a 2 for 2 day with a walk and three stolen bases. Annabelle Pugh scored two runs and stole two bases while Anna Williams drove in two runs. Maddie Traywick started and was relieved by Warrick midway through the contest. The duo combined for 12 strikeouts and only one walk.