Ethel softball won its first game of the season Monday, defeating Choctaw County 8-3.
“We're starting to mature,” said coach Tyler McKinley. “We have a long way to go but this is the starting point.”
The Lady Tigers were led by a couple of eighth graders. Bailyn Rone doubled twice, and Alana White went the distance, allowing four hits and one earned run, with five strikeouts. She did walk nine.
“We have to cut those down to be more successful. But all things considered, it was pretty good,” McKinley said.
Ethel took a 4-0 lead with three runs in the first and one in the second. Choctaw County scored its three runs in the third, including a two-run triple by McKenzie Sanders. The Lady Tigers stretched the lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth and two in the seventh.
Karli Fortenberry catches a Kosy player in a rundown for the out.
Kevin Brunt / The Star-Herald
Ethel had 12 hits, including three by Hadlee Fancher.
The Lady Tigers lost three games to strong opposition last week, 11-3 and 10-3 against Kosciusko and 12-6 to East Webster.
Ethel took a 4-0 lead against East Webster with two runs each in the first and second. East Webster scored twice in the fourth then put up 10 runs in the fifth.
Ethel had 12 hits. Karli Fortenberry singled twice and doubled, Brooke Mitchell had a single and double, Emily Mitchell and Meredith Moudy two hits each and Lizzie Rae Ellington doubled.
The Lady Tigers began Region 5-1A play at French Camp Tuesday, will be home to Leake County Thursday and will host a 10-team tournament Friday and Saturday.
