Playing in game two of the South Jones Softball Tournament, the East Central Lady Hornets squeezed by the Enterprise Lady Yellow Jackets 4-3. In a tight game that could’ve gone either way, the game would come down to which team could find a gap in the defense to drop the ball in play. The Lady Hornets were able to find one final gap to pick up the win.

“East Central is a good team and are very well coached,” said Enterprise Lady Yellow Jackets coach Tyler King. “I thought our girls did very well.”

Senior Carlee Nations got the game started for the Lady Yellow Jackets, nailing a double with one out. Eighth-grader Abby Richardson scored Nations, connecting with a double, before East Central was able to get the final two outs.

Looking at one out in the bottom half of the first, East Central’s Kaleigh Fillingame reached first on a single. Chesie Killen followed with a single. Fillingame later crossed home plate before the Lady Yellow Jackets were able to apply the tag out at third base.

Batting in their half of the second with one out, Lady Yellow Jackets sophomore Belle Porter hit a single. Junior Morgan Smith and eighth- grader Natalie Harris followed with singles, loading the bases. The Enterprise girls scored on a fielder’s choice RBI by senior Carly Polk before the East Central girls could get out of the inning.

Both teams’ defenses rose to the challenge in the third inning, getting three up and three down. The fourth inning saw each team get only one hit before the defenses once again stranded the runners.

Enterprise held a 2-1 lead heading into the fifth inning.

The East Cental Lady Hornets took the lead in their half of the fifth. Madison Pearson got things started for the Lady Hornets with a double. Junior Nikkolette Hernandez followed with a single. Senior Taylor Johnson brought in one run with her RBI sacrifice. With one out, Senior Kaihanna Scott brought in the final run of the inning on an RBI single before the Lady Yellow Jackets were able to get a pop-up out.

Both teams were able to score one run apiece before each team was able to get out of the latter innings. East Central squeezed by Enterprise by a final score of 4-3.

“We made some errors that cost us a run or two but overall I’m proud of my girls,” King said. “We went four and one this week and they pressed really hard. They did what they were supposed to do, we just came up a little short today.”

Enterprise, 7-3 overall and 2-0 in region 7-2A, will travel to Bogue Chitto Thursday, March 29, as they take on regional rival Bogue Chitto.

Story by Dave Linton