After struggling with errors in two losses, the Kirk Academy Raiderettes bounced back with two straight wins as they went 3-2 in games over the past three weeks.
On Sept. 3, Kirk had two critical errors leading to a 5-4 walk off loss at Manchester Academy in Yazoo City. On
Sept. 8, a hot-hitting Marshall Academy team pounded out 18 hits and took advantage of seven KA errors to win a 16-2 decision. The Raiderettes bounced back Sept. 9 with a 12-0 win over West Memphis, Ark.
Last week, Kirk closed its district schedule with a 9-6 win at North Delta last Monday and defeated Lee Aadeemy of Clarksdale 13-4 last Tuesday.
With the games, Kirk is 8-13 overall and 7-1 inside Class AAA, District 1 action. They finished in a tie with Marshall Academy for the regular season title and will be the No. 2 seed in the upcoming North AAA Tournament in Cleveland.
Manchester Academy
The Raiderettes finished with eight hits – all singles. Eighth-grader Eva Rose was 2-for-4 (2 RBI, run) and classmate Maggie Malone was 2-for-2. Seventh-grader Charlie Bowman finished 2-for-4 and junior Abbie Mattox was 2-for-3 (2 runs). Junior Ava Kirk scored a run.
Sixth-grader Miranda Rutland pitched 6 innings (11 hits, 5 runs, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts).
Marshall Academy
The Lady Patriots scored 12 of their runs in the last three innings to break the game open.
Kirk finished with four hits led by senior Camryn Allbritton with two singles. Bowman chipped in with a single and a run scored, while Cecile Brister scored a run. Ava Kirk finished with a single.
Rutland took the loss.
West Memphis (Ark.)
Abbie Mattox led the Kirk offense going 2-for-3 (RBI, run) and Brister was 2-for-3 (2 RBI, run) on Senior Night.
Senior Lylah Kate Burnett was 1-for-3 (2 RBI, run). Rose was 1-for-2 (RBI, 2 runs), while Malone and Bowman (RBI) both scored a run. Allie Mattox scored 2 runs and Allbritton drove home two runs. Ava Kirk scored a run.
Rutland struck out 2 in four innings of work to pick up the win.
North Delta School
The Raiderettes took advantage of six Green Wave walks and three errors in sweeping the season series.
Kirk scored in six of seven innings and finished with six hits, all of which were singles.
“We found ourselves down 2-0 early, but fought back to win 13-4,” head coach Josh Zeitz said.
Abbie Mattox had a single and drove home three runs, while Bowman added a single (RBI, run). Rose (run), Albritton (run), Rutland (RBI, run) and Burnett (RBI, 2 runs) each chipped in a single. Allie Mattox and Malone (RBI) both scored a run. Ava Kirk scored two runs, Brister drove home a run.
Rutland was the winning pitcher going 7 innings (9 hits, 6 runs, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts).
Lee Academy
Kirk used scored 10 of their runs in the final two innings to ease past the Fillies. The Raiderettes finished with seven hits, four of them being extra base hits.
Allie Mattox led the way going 2-for-4 (double, 2 RBI, 2 runs), while Rose was 2-for-3 (double, 3 RBI 2 runs). Bowman was
1-for-4 (home run, 4 RBI, run) and Brister finished 1-for-2 (3 runs). Burnett had a single and a run scored, while Albritton and Abbie Mattox scored one run each. Ava Kirk added a run scored.
“We struggled with the off speed pitching early in the game and found ourselves down 4-2,” Zeitz concluded. “We went to our bunt game and the girls showed a lot of fight.”
Rutland pitched 5 innings (9 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned runs,1 walk, 2 strikeouts).
Kirk closed the regular season Monday at DeSoto (Ark.) School. Results were not available as of press time.
The Raiderettes are scheduled to take part in the North AAA Tournament, which begins Saturday at Bear Pen Park in Cleveland.
Kirk opens action at 11:45 a.m. against Winona Christian School, the
No. 3 team in District 2. Coach Kathi Ramage’s Lady Stars, which are 14-7 heading into Monday’s regular season finale with Indianola Academy.
