TUESDAY PREPS: PCA softball pulls away late to beat Catholic; ACA baseball tops Beulah

Avery Sadler lays down a bunt in Catholic’s game against Prattville Christian on Tuesday. (Tim Gayle)

COMBINED REPORTS

After some early-inning missed opportunities, Prattville Christian settled down and scored three runs in the sixth inning to pull away from Catholic 7-2 in a Class 4A Area 5 game at Catholic on Tuesday.

Both teams had opportunities early, but both struggled to take control of the game defensively or to break through at the plate.

“We didn’t make the plays that we needed to make at the right times,” observed Catholic coach Whitney Toole. “We’ve got to find a way to get over that hump and make a play when it counts. At this point, we’re still moving people around, trying to find something that works.”

The Knights got singles from Rylee Wilcoxson and Hayden Fitts to lead off the bottom of the first, but got just one run out of it after PCA second baseman Chloe Hollon made a diving grab on a line drive back up the middle to prevent two runs from scoring.

In the second inning, after Prattville Christian tied the game, the Knights had doubles by Jennifer Looney and Wilcoxson, but again managed just one run.

Wilcoxson went 3 for 4 and Fitts went 2 for 4 but the Knights were just 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Prattville Christian scored a pair of unearned runs in the third inning to break a 2-2 tie and added three more unearned runs in the sixth with two-out RBI singles by Caralee Janes, Chasiti Lindsey and Saniyah Weaver.

“We finally got some hits with runners on,” Prattville Christian coach Randy Stough said. “It’s just putting the bat on the ball. Some of us are overswinging so we’re pulling out or we’re out front. We just weren’t very disciplined early at the plate. The six inning was huge, to get those three runs.”

Weaver went 3 for 4 with an RBI and Lindsey went 2 for 3 with an RBI to lead the Panthers.

“Today was the first day that I have had the starting lineup that I had at the start of the season,” Stough said. “We’ve had injuries and I’ve had to move people around. We were kind of piecing it together early on and we’ve had a week off for spring break, so you could tell we were rusty today. We’ve got to play better than what we did today.”

PCA ace Alivia Messick pitched the first three innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out two. Reliever Laura Beth NeSmith pitched the final four innings, allowing no runs on three hits while striking out two and walking one.

“That’s probably two of the better pitchers we’ve seen,” Toole said. “We did improve from last year when we played them, but now we’ve got to focus on not just putting it in play, we’ve got to focus on making the play.”

Looney suffered the loss, allowing seven runs, two earned, on nine hits while walking two in seven innings of work.

Catholic (7-14) dropped to 2-2 in area play and will travel to Prattville next week to play the Panthers again.

PCA (17-4) improved to 3-0 in area play and will return home to play LAMP in an area game at home on Thursday.

SOFTBALL

Pike Road 20, Park Crossing 0

Anna Williams pitched a no hitter, striking out eight, to lead the Patriots to an area victory over Park Crossing on Tuesday at Lagoon Park Softball Complex.

Lily Kate Vinson led the Patriots at the plate with two doubles and two RBIs. Addison Belyeu had two hits, including a double, stole a base and drove in three runs. Paisley Forshey drove the ball to the right center field gap for an inside-the-park grand slam. While Kelsey Williams had a pair of hits and Williams had two hits, including a triple. Kennedy Thompson, Mary Hayden Hargrove, Ameria Anderson and Kasyn Wilson all added one hit each.

Pike Road remained unbeaten in 6A Area 3 play at 4-0 and will travel to Brundidge to play Pike County on Thursday.

St. James 5, Alabama Christian 0

Emily Needham struck out 10 and allowed just two hits as the Trojans improved to 2-0 in 3A Area 5 play with a 5-0 win over Alabama Christian on Tuesday at St. James.

Needham allowed just a pair of singles by Chloe Childs and Maddi Owens as the Trojans scored three runs in the first inning and added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Sydney Johnston went 2 for 3 with a triple and drove in a pair of runs to lead the St. James offense. Ava Stanford went 2 for 4 with a double, Emily Darby added an RBI double and Tat Shuford and Mary Olive Maddox added RBI singles as well.

Maddie Traywick took the loss for the Eagles, allowing five runs on nine hits while walking four and striking out four in six innings of work.

BOYS TENNIS

Montgomery Academy 9, Opelika 0

OPELIKA -- Montgomery Academy swept the singles and doubles competition in a section match against the Bulldogs on Tuesday.

The doubles teams of John Alford and Jackson Brown, Ford Morano and Edwin Wu and Anton Yang and Bo Johnston gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead.

In singles, Alford, Brown, Morano, Wu, Liam Baker and Duncan McInnes all posted wins.

Montgomery Academy (10-1) improved to 4-0 in section play and will travel to Tuscaloosa this weekend to play in the Hillcrest Doubles tournament on Friday and Saturday.

GIRLS TENNIS

Montgomery Academy 9, Opelika 0

OPELIKA -- The Montgomery Academy girls swept the singles and doubles competition in a section match at Opelika’s Calhoun Tennis Center on Tuesday.

Montgomery Academy (9-4) improved to 5-1 in section play and will travel to Tuscaloosa this weekend to play in the Hillcrest Doubles tournament on Friday and Saturday.

BASEBALL

Alabama Christian 3, Beulah 1

Alabama Christian scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to rally past Beulah 3-1 on Tuesday at the AUM Dixie Majors Field.

Teilan Long started for the Eagles, pitching the first four innings and allowing one run on three hits while striking out three. Beau Gainey pitched the final three innings to pick up the win, allowing just one hit while striking out one.

Jackson McGuire went 2 for 3 to lead the Eagles at the plate. Levi Summers went 1 for 2 and Ethan Dabney went 1 for 2 with an RBI. Jackson Burton went 1 for 3 and Mac Moorer went 1 for 3 with an RBI.

Alabama Christian will play host to Prattville Christian in an area game on Thursday at 4:30 p.m., then travel to Prattville on Friday to play the Panthers in an area doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m.  

BOYS SOCCER

Montgomery Academy 8, Auburn 1

The Eagles got a pair of goals from Hampton Welch, Cade Segars, Jacob Stubblefield and Brewer Welch to defeat the Tigers 8-1 on Tuesday at McLemore Field.

Hampton Welch scored the first two goals and assisted on Segars’ first goal.

Goalkeeper Grady Ming had seven saves for the Eagles.

Montgomery Academy (8-1) will play host to JAG on Friday in a 7A Area 3 game.

Brew Tech 2, Prattville Christian 0

Brew Tech scored a pair of goals in a defensive battle with the Panthers, winning 2-0 at the Emory Folmar Soccer Complex on Tuesday.

PCA (3-7) will travel to play Trinity on Friday.

GIRLS SOCCER

Auburn 4, Montgomery Academy 1

Auburn scored a pair of goals in the first half and two more in the second half to defeat Montgomery Academy 4-1 on Tuesday at McLemore Field.

The Eagles faced a challenging start from the defending 7A state champions, with goalkeeper Arden Horne called into action early, producing a series of impressive saves to keep the game level.

Auburn broke the deadlock 20 minutes into the first half when their midfielder found space at the edge of the box and placed a precise shot into the bottom corner. Just five minutes later, Auburn doubled their lead, converting a well-struck free kick to make it 2-0.

Despite the scoreline, the Eagles displayed remarkable resilience and character, continuing to compete until the final whistle. Their efforts were rewarded with 10 minutes remaining, as Mary Elizabeth Cole drove forward and played a well-timed through ball to Sophia Cho, who finished clinically to make it 4-1.

Montgomery Academy (7-2) will return to action on Thursday against Catholic and will play host to JAG in a 7A Area 3 game on Friday.

Brew Tech 1, Prattville Christian 0

The Rams won a defensive battle with Prattville Christian, defeating the Panthers 1-0 at the Emory Folmar Soccer Complex on Tuesday.

PCA (4-4-1) will travel to play Trinity on Friday.