The Lady Tiger softball team had hit a recent rough patch, losing four straight games (three district match ups) over the last few weeks but Mount Pleasant got back in the win column with a current three-game winning streak.

The first win, a 9-3 victory on the road at Texas High, closed out the first round of 15-5A play and gave the Lady Tigers a 3-3 district mark. The Lady Tigers opened the second round with a 16-3 run rule of Marshall and 10-0 run rule of Pine Tree. Mount Pleasant now sits with an overall record of 16-6 and are currently tied in third place at 5-3 with Longview.

Mount Pleasant 9
Texas High 3

The Lady Tigers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Ella Cross walked and came around to score on an infield single by Jordan Batchelor. Texas High knotted the score at 1-1 before Mount Pleasant plated a pair of runs with two outs as Morgan Hill reached on a single, followed by a double from Conlee Zachry. Zachry scampered home on a Texas High error to set the score at 3-1. After Texas High tied the game at 3-3, the Lady Tigers regained the lead with a two-run home run from Zachry which scored Cross who singled to start the frame. Mount Pleasant put the game out of reach with a four spot in the sixth inning. Jordyn Hargrave, Amariya Miller, and Casey Jones slapped a double and back-to-back singles to start the inning. Following a two out walk to Hill, Zachry and Batchelor connected on another pair of back-to-back hits and extended the Lady Tiger lead to 9-3. Zachry picked up the win in the circle, allowing three runs on six hits and five strikeouts in the complete 7-inning performance.

Mount Pleasant 16
Marshall 3

The Lady Tigers trailed 1-0 before coming the plate, but Mount Pleasant went unphased as they scored five runs to take a 5-1 lead. Mount Pleasant sent nine players to the plate as Cross singled, Hill walked, and Zachry doubled. Batchelor reached on an error, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Kelsey Howard, Hargrave walked, and Miller delivered on an RBI ground out. Marshall added a pair of runs in the second, cutting the margin to 5-3 but the Lady Tigers put the game on ice in the home half of the 2nd, scoring 10 runs on 8 hits in the inning to extend the lead to 15-3. The Lady Tigers would tack on one more run to end the game. Zachry finished the game with three hits – 2 doubles, a home run, and four RBIs. Cross added a single, double, walk, five stolen bases and three runs. Batchelor added a pair of hits and three RBIs. Jenna Cook, Howard, Hargrave, Miller, and Kaylee Silman each had a hit in the game. Hargrave and Hill scored twice. Zachry notched the win in the circle, allowing three runs on five hits and eight strikeouts. Casey Jones pitched a flawless inning, retiring all three batters she faced.

Mount Pleasant 10
Pine Tree 0

The Lady Tigers blanked Pine Tree 10-0 on the road Tuesday night in District 15-5A play for their second consecutive run rule win. Mount Pleasant scored in four of the five innings during the game en route to the mercy rule win. The Lady Tigers banged out 14 hits on the night behind the bats of Paris Beard – 3 singles and 3 runs; Kaylee Silman – 2 hits and three RBI; Ella Cross – 2 singles and 2 stolen bases; Kelsey Howard – single and double; Casey Jones – two singles; Amariya Miller – two singles. Conlee Zachry and Jordyn Hargrave each had a double and a single. Kylie Humber scored twice. Jones picked up the win in the circle, allowing one hit and one strikeout in the five-inning shutout. “We played good defense behind CJ tonight,” said Head Coach Jeremy Tarrant. “She pounded the zone and threw first pitch strikes to 14 of the 17 batters she faced. She commanded her pitches, and we were solid behind her.”

“Offensively, our bottom of the lineup set the tone with half of the hits,” continued Tarrant. “We had several players move the ball around and we did a good job making some in game adjustments.”

The Lady Tigers will look to extend their win streak and move up in the district standings this Friday as they travel to Sulphur Springs to take on the league leaders. JV will start at 4:30 with Varsity to follow.

Photos by John Whitten
Photo 1 – Conlee Zachry unloads the pitch.
Photo 2 – Amariya Miller drops down a bunt.