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Rainy weather in the area on Monday afternoon affected what was supposed to be opening day of the regular season for several of the local high school softball teams.

Crisp County High School’s scheduled season-opening game in Cordele against Bainbridge was called off, and Fullington Academy’s planned home contest against Piedmont Academy was also canceled due to a rainout on Monday afternoon.

The Wilcox County Lady Patriots were able to play their season-opening contest in Rochelle against Wheeler County on the day, however. The visiting Wheeler County Lady Bulldogs came away with the win over Wilcox in that contest by a final score of 8-4.

Wheeler County opened up the scoring with three runs in the first inning on three singles and one hit by pitch.

Wilcox countered in the bottom half of the first frame with a pair of runs. Chastity Stephens drove in the first Wilcox run of the game with an RBI triple that sent Grace Keene to home plate, and Carlee Walls followed up with an RBI single that plated Stephens. The Lady Patriots trailed 3-2 entering the second inning.

After a scoreless second frame, Wheeler County used two runs in the third inning, and three in the fourth to stretch their lead out to 8-2.

Wilcox pulled closer toward the end of the contest with one run in both the fifth and sixth innings. Blakelyn Bloodworth drove in the fifth-inning run with an RBI single that scored Stephens. Grace Keene knocked in the sixth-inning run with an RBI single that scored Jalynn Keene.

Those last two Wilcox runs of the day brought the final score to 8-4 in favor of the visitors.

Grace Keene and Jalynn Keene each pitched two innings for the Lady Patriots, and the two allowed just one earned run apiece. Stephens pitched three scoreless frames for the Lady Patriots and struck out five batters.

Stephens also led the offense for Wilcox in the contest with three hits, two runs scored and one RBI. Walls and Grace Keene both finished the game with two hits and an RBI.

Keleiyah Harris led Wheeler County’s offense in the game with two hits, including a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning.

The Wilcox Lady Patriots are scheduled to play their first region game of the season at Turner County this afternoon at 5:30, and their next game will be on the road at Telfair County on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Following Monday’s rainout, Crisp County’s first game is scheduled to be played tomorrow (Wednesday, August 7) at Coffee County at 6 p.m. Fullington is scheduled to play on Thursday at Southwest Georgia Academy at 4.