The Lee Academy softball team built a five-run lead in the fourth inning and then held off Indianola Academy's charge for a road 5-3 victory on Monday to open district play with a win.
Indianola Academy put up three runs in the failed comeback.
The Fillies (5-4, 1-0) got on the board in the first inning.
Mikah Jantz singled on a 1-2 count, scoring two runs. Ashlynn Smith led Lee to victory on the rubber. She allowed six hits and three runs over seven innings, striking out five and walking one.
Jantz, Anna Byrd, Callie Millwood, and Smith each collected one hit to lead Lee Academy. Lee Academy Fillies Varsity tore up the base paths, as two players stole at least two bases. Haley Ramirez led the way with two.
“We faced a really good Indianola team yesterday,” Lee coach Tom Fleming said. “They battled back. We held on to shut them down and Ashlynn pitched a great game. We came out literally tearing the cover on the ball, which helped. We jumped on them, had a 5-0 lead and finished the game. Last year, we were ahead like that and let them come back in the last inning, but we did not this time.”
The Fillies went 2-2 in the tournament at Indianola Academy on Saturday.
Lee opened with a 6-0 victory against Winona Christian.
The Fillies scored three runs in the third inning. Jett Harrell, Shelton Johnson and Faith Carter Bailey each had RBIs during the frame.
Smith was the winning pitcher going three innings, allowing one hit, striking out five, walking none and giving up one run.
Byrd, Bailey and Johnson each collected one hit.
The Fillies defeated Carroll Academy in the second game 8-1.
Smith pitched once again.
“The Carroll game, due to a death in Central Hinds, had to drop out of the tournament,” Fleming said. “Carroll’s B team filled in, so it was pretty much an A team vs. a B team game.”
Lee lost 4-1 to Marshall Academy.
Harrell pitched three innings slowing four runs on five hits and striking out one.
Byrd and Millwood had one hit apiece to lead the Fillies.
Lee had no errors and Celia Gibson had the most chances in the field with five.
The loss put the Fillies at the No. 2 spot in their bracket.
Lee’s day ended with a 2-1 loss to Washington School.
The game was tied 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth when Washington School got a walkoff single to win.
Smith had three strikeouts in the loss, while lasting 5 1/3 innings and allowing four hits.
Lee was ahead 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth when Washington tied things up.
Smith, Harrell and Millwood had one hit each for Lee. Washington did not commit any errors.
“We played three really good teams,” Fleming said. “Out of our four losses, two of them have come against Marshall. Playing the better competition got us better prepared for this district.”
Lee hosts a tournament all day on Saturday.
