ND ladies claim 1-3A District Championship

By Myra Bean
The North Delta Lady Green Wave will travel to Columbus tomorrow for North State action after defeating Marshall Academy 8-3 Monday to go undefeated in the district and claim the 1-AAA District Championship for the third straight year.
The Lady Green Wave (14-6 overall, 9-0 district) lost to Magnolia Heights 10-6 in its final game of the regular season Tuesday on senior night. Four senior players and one manager were honored between the junior varsity and varsity games: Janie Brasell, Hailey Rikard, Sarah Johnson, J. B. Swindoll and Hannah Malatesta.
North Delta will travel to Heritage Academy in Columbus tomorrow morning to play Hartfield Academy at 11 a.m. The winner will play tomorrow night at 5 p.m. The loser will play tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. The tournament will conclude Monday.
North Delta 8, Marshall 3 (6 innings)
North Delta took out Marshall in six innings as the home team did not bat in bottom of the inning.
North Delta took a 2-0 lead in the second inning and went 5-0 in top of the third. Marshall scored all three of its runs in bottom of the fifth while the Lady Wave answered with three more runs in top of the sixth.
In top of the second inning, Rikard and Johnson both reached first on errors and advanced. A double RBI (run batted in) by Isabella Morrow drove both home.
In top of the third, Brasell, Ally Alford and Maci Kirkland loaded the bases. Brasell singled to the pitcher and beat the throw to first. Alford reached first on a sacrifice bunt and Kirkland was hit by a pitch. Rikard reached on an error driving home Brasell. Alford advanced to third and then scored on a wild pitch for the 4-0 lead.
Kirkland was tagged out at second, but Rikard advanced to second. As Taylor Barton grounded out to the pitcher, Rikard advanced to third. Johnson reached on an error while driving Rikard home from third.
Marshall scored on a two RBI triple in bottom of the fifth and a fielder’s choice.
Kirkland was placed on second in top of the sixth and Taylor Barton came in as a courtesy runner. Barton scored on Johnson’s double to center field.
Johnson scored on Morrow’s triple to right. Morrow scored the last run on Amanda Lamb’s sacrifice fly.
Leading at the plate was Morrow going 2-for-3 with a triple, double, one run and three RBIs. Also getting hits were Brasell, 2-for-3, one double; and Johnson, 1-for-3, double, one RBI.
Johnson pitched three innings, striking out four and allowing two hits. Alford relieved her in the fourth, allowing two hits.
Magnolia Heights 10, North Delta 6
No matter what North Delta did Tuesday night, the Lady Wave could not get an advantage over their nemesis, the Lady Chiefs.
Things looked pretty promising in the beginning as Rikard gave the Lady Green Wave a 3-1 lead with a two-run homer to right center. She drove home Sydney Talley, courtesy runner for Kirkland who doubled to get on base.
The first run was scored by Brasell who singled to right field and then stole second and third bases to be in position to score on Alford’s ground out to shortstop.
A four-run second inning gave Magnolia Heights back the lead for good. The Lady Chiefs scored on a two-RBI triple, sac bunt and a passed ball for the 5-3 lead.
North Delta scored again in bottom of the third on a double RBI by Johnson who drove home Rikard, who had walked to get on base with two outs. A ground out to the pitcher ended the inning with runners in scoring position as the lead was cut 5-4.
In top of the fourth, Magnolia Heights went ahead 8-4.
With two outs, North Delta scored its fifth run on a RBI triple by Morrow who drove home Johnson who had walked to base. Morrow was left on base after the third out was a ground out to third base.
Magnolia Heights continued to build on its lead as it took a 10-5 lead in top of the seventh. The Lady Wave had a little light as the players got on base. Johnson walked and scored on J. B. Swindoll’s ground out to second. Morrow singled and stole second and advanced to third on Swindoll’s ground out. Lamb got hit by pitch and stole second. Those two remained on base as the last two outs were ground outs to end the game.
Rikard led at the plate going 1-for-4, one homerun, two RBIs, two runs followed by Morrow who went 2-for-4, with a triple and one RBI.
Other hitters include Kirkland, 2-for-4, two doubles; Brasell, 2-for-5, one run; Johnson, 1-for-4, one double, two runs, one RBI; Lamb, 1-for-4; and Swindoll, 1-for-4, one RBI.