Isabella Morrow was up to bat for North Delta in a recent game.

The Panolian photo by Glennie Pou

ND softball advances to state with domination on mound

By Myra Bean
Sarah Johnson pitched 14 strikeouts in a one-hitter 1-0 win Saturday night over Riverfield Academy to advance the North Delta fastpitch to the semi-final matchup yesterday morning with Leake Academy.
In two extra innings, the Lady Wave lost 5-4 in nine innings.
North Delta played the winner of the Bayou/Kirk Academy game. The remaining two winners met last night to decide North State champion. The scores were not available at press time.
With the win Saturday night, the Lady Green Wave earned a third straight trip to the state championship Saturday, October 1 and Monday, October 3. Times for the games have not been released. The winner will advance to the final round and play a best 2-out-of-3 series to determine the Class Championship. The first game and the third game (if needed) will be played at the site of the team advancing from the winners’ bracket. The second game will be played at the site of the team advancing from the losers’ bracket.
Earlier in the day, the Lady Green Wave jumped on Hartfield Academy 14-3.
ND 1, Riverfield Academy 0
It was a pitchers’ duel which dominated this game. The teams were scoreless until the top of the fifth when Johnson scored on an Amanda Lamb single to shortstop. Johnson had doubled to left to get on base and advanced to third on a ground out by Isabella Morrow to the pitcher.
The Lady Wave scattered seven hits throughout the game. Johnson was 2-for-3, one double, one run. Lamb went 2-for-2, one RBI, one double. Hailey Rikard, Taylor Barton and Emy Cay Donaldson all went 1-for-3.
Johnson pitched the complete game in seven innings facing 26 batters and walking four.
North Delta 14, Hartfield 3
A five-run first inning catapulted the Lady Green Wave past Hartfield Saturday morning. The Lady Wave added four runs in the second, one in the third and five more in the fifth.
Lamb led at the plate going 3-for-3, one run, two RBIs followed by Rikard, 2-for-4, one triple, one run, three RBIs and Ally Alford, 2-for-3, three runs, one RBI. Other hitters include Janie Brasell, 1-for-4, two runs; Maci Kirkland, 2-for-4, one run; Johnson, 0-for-3, one RBI; Barton, 1-for-2, two runs; Morrow, 2-for-3, two runs; and Donaldson, 1-for-3, one run, three RBIs.
In bottom of the first, Brasell reached first on an error, followed by Alford who was hit by a pitch. The catcher dropped the third strike on Johnson who reached first on an error and drove home Brasell who had reached third on a Rikard ground out to second. Alford also scored.
Barton and Morrow both singled to get on base and advanced Johnson to third base. Lamb singled driving Johnson home.
Donaldson singled, plating Barton and advanced Morrow and Lamb into scoring position. Morrow scored on a passed ball for the 5-0 lead. Johnson grounded out to second as Rikard plated the run.
In the second inning, Rikard tripled and drove home Alford and Kirkland for two runs. Morrow and Lamb then singled. Then Morrow scored while Donaldson is at bat for the 9-1 lead.
In bottom of the third, Alford singled and scored on Rikard’s single to center field to take a 10-1 lead.
In bottom of the fourth, leadoff batter Barton was hit by a pitch and Lamb singled. They advanced bases on back-to-back wild pitches. Barton scored on one of the wild pitches while Lamb scored as Donaldson reached first on an error. Donaldson then scored on an error while Alford was at bat.
Alford’s at-bat was filled with base movement. Before Alford, Brasell had singled to get on base. She stole second and third. Alford reached first on an error and Brasell scored for the 14-3 lead.
Johnson pitched the complete game in five innings, striking out 11 of 25 batters she faced, walking five and allowing three runs, one earned run.