The D’Iberville Lady Warriors wasted no time Tuesday as they pushed five runs across in the first inning en route to a 10-3 win over the archrival Biloxi Lady Indians on the opening night of Region 4-7A softball play in Biloxi.
Lady Warriors shortstop Maddie Porter made her presence known immediately as she walked, stole second and third and scored on a fielder’s choice by Emma Franklin.
Porter continues to be a nightmare to Coast pitchers as she ended the night 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, three runs scored and an RBI.
Her teammate, Olivia Drieling, was in a zone, going 4-for-4 with three stolen bases, two RBIs and a run scored.
“Both Maddie and Olivia had great games for us tonight,” said D’Iberville coach Scooter Prince. “Maddie is a very intelligent softball player. She’s the perfect leadoff hitter because she is going to take pitches and be patient to find her pitch and drive it.
“Olivia is starting to learn how to hit the ball back up the middle and three of her four hits tonight proved it. We’ve been off four days and for our team to come in and swing the bats like they did really got us going.”
The Lady Warriors’ rally continued in the first as Layla Barnes walked, stole second, and was tagged at third on Franklin’s fielder’s choice. After a hit by a pitch on Annah Nicely, Drieling then ripped a hit to center, knocking in Franklin and Nicely.
Drieling moved to second on the throw home from the outfield and then stole third and home. After Emma Redding earned a walk and stole second, the Lady Warriors’ ninth batter of the inning, center fielder Kinney Jurich, knocked her in, making the score 5-0.
Jurich, Porter, and Barnes all scored in the seventh for D’Iberville.
Biloxi tried to rally in the third inning, pushing across its first run. With two outs and nobody on, Nia Shannon smashed a line drive to left center. Shannon was able to score after her sister, Imani Shannon, reached on an error, making the score 5-1 after three innings.
Trailing big in the sixth, the Lady Indians had their best inning of the night. Catcher Erin Hill singled to right, and after Aubrey Atchison was hit by a pitch, Amari hit a two-run triple to right, making the score 9-3.
“We have the talent and I keep preaching this to the girls,” said Biloxi coach Emily Todd. “I think there’s going to be a huge change within the first two innings and that’s where we are struggling right now. They just need to believe in themselves and come out ready.”
Biloxi pitcher Kylie McKay came in relief in the first inning with her team trailing. She made it all the way to the seventh inning and allowed only one earned run with three strikeouts and one walk.
“The past couple of games we’ve walked a lot of batters and we’re working with them to get them to feel more comfortable on the mound,” Todd said. “Kylie came in with five runs against her. I praised her for that. D’Iberville ran the bases very well. We haven’t faced a team that was so aggressive on the basepaths.”
Redding cruised on the mound for the Lady Warriors, scattering five hits, allowing two earned runs and racking up seven strikeouts.
“She came out tonight and pitched her butt off,” said Coach Prince. “The last outing she had was a little rough so it was great to see her come out and hit her spots when she had to and did a great job.”
D’Iberville and Biloxi both continue their region schedules on Thursday. D’Iberville travels to Harrison Central while Biloxi will host St. Martin.
