By HARVEY SIMPSON
Dispatch Sports Editor
ROCHELLE — Perennial softball power Schley County spoiled Wilcox High’s Senior Day observation to a degree Thursday, posting a 6-2 victory that ended the regular season for both teams.
With its win, Schley improved to 19-5 overall and finished 10-0 in Region 2-A, Division A, where Wilcox went 7-3 and wound up as the No. 2 seed behind the Lady Wildcats.
Overall, the Lady Patriots stand 16-8 heading into the opening round of the region tournament Monday in Butler where they’ll face Pacelli, the No. 3 Division B seed at 3 p.m.
“We played well for the most part, although we did give them five outs in the two innings they scored,” Wilcox coach George Kennedy said. “While I know we’re doing the best we can, truth is to win in this sport you’ve got to be able to catch and throw consistently without making mistakes.
“Our problem is that we sometimes don’t do either well enough to beat teams like Schley, which year in and year out is one of the best in the state. In order for that to change, we need more kids playing softball year round so that we can better compete against stronger teams.”
The Lady Wildcats, who have several players involved in travel ball, got the only runs they would have needed for their triumph when Ansley Phillips socked a three-run first inning homer that followed a hit batsman and Wilcox error.
The Lady Patriots picked up their first run in the third. It was scored by Rachel Barwick, who walked, took second when Nicole Hilliard was hit by a pitch, moved on third on Michaela Dennard’s single and came home as Sara Hall worked a free pass to first. A strikeout and fly ball left the sacks loaded.
Schley had another three-run frame in the sixth. A single and error preceded a two-run double by Kayla Kirchner who later came home on a dropped fly ball.
Wilcox closed out the game’s scoring with a seventh inning tally produced when Jenna Kennedy reached on a fielder’s choice, took third on Heather Tripp’s single and raced home on Heather Watson’s grounder.
Jenna Kennedy was tagged with the mound loss. She struck out four, walked none, plunked two batters and allowed just five hits — two each by Kirchner and Jessie Eason.
Heather Tripp enjoyed a three-hit day for the losers, who in matching the Lady Wildcats’ total of five base hits, got a safety each from Kennedy and Dennard.
Seniors Kennedy and Barwick were presented with softballs autographed by their teammates and “goodie bags” during pre-game ceremonies. A hamburger cookout followed the varsity’s defeat and the junior varsity’s 15-0 loss to Schley.
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