Lady Pirates win area championship

By BRIAN HAMILTON, Editor

Pickens Academy had just suffered through a difficult game against South Choctaw Academy, a game that PA won 2-1 and the Lady Rebel fans were angry because of a call where the runner left early. South Choctaw had an opportunity to really put their foot down on the Lady Pirates had they won that game, yet PA survived and went on to win their last two meetings to win the area championship.

Pickens Academy, 1 South Choctaw, 0

It is never much of a surprise for there to be a 1-0 line when PA’s Shelby Lowe is on the mound, as the junior struck out 12 batters, while allowing one hit and walking one batter.

Regardless of Lowe’s lethal pitching, the Lady Pirates could not hit South Choctaw. The game was scoreless until the top of the 6th inning, when Mackenzie McCool singled to left field sent a runner home for the 1-0 lead and the eventual win.

Pickens Academy, 7 South Choctaw, 5

The Lady Pirates went into their doubleheader with South Choctaw having already won the area championship earlier in the day. What was key for the Lady Pirates is that Lowe did not pitch the game with the area championship already wrapped up.

Dudley wrapped up the sweep by picking up the win, while allowing nine hits and five runs over seven innings.

PA went ahead 4-1 in the bottom of the third, but the game got tight in the bottom fourth, as the Lady Pirates fell behind.

Mackenzie McCool then blasted a home run to centerfield and gave PA a 7-4 lead over Southern Choctaw. PA would hold on to win the game 7-5.