The Catawba Ridge Copperheads softball team improved to 4-0 after beating crosstown rivals Fort Mill 7-5 in a close, but soggy battle Monday.
Both teams battled the intermittent rain and early season mistakes, as they were able to put together an intense match-up.
“We knew we were going to have to do the little things right,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Michael Kidd. “Fort Mill is a good ball club.”
Braylon Lawrence led Catawba Ridge going 2-4 with three RBI and Audrey Wilson went 1-4 with a two-run home run early in the game to set the pace for the Copperheads. Catawba Ridge’s Chloe Burger pitched a complete game striking out six and walking two batters, while allowing seven hits.
In the top of the first inning, Wilson hit a two-run home run scoring herself and Janelle Ilacqua who reached on a walk to give Catawba Ridge an early 2-0 lead. Fort Mill came back in the second inning and scored a run on a passed ball to cut the Copperheads lead in half.
Catawba Ridge added two runs in the top of the third as Ilacqua started the inning off with a single and was driven in by Lawrence. Lawrence was then driven in by Sara Rocheleau who doubled to extend the Copperheads lead.
Fort Mill didn’t get a hit until the fourth inning when Maddie Drerup doubled to lead the inning off for the Jackets. Two batters later, Trinity Wall hit a two-run home run to make it 4-3 and tighten the game up even more.
The Jackets were never able to tie the game up, but was able to keep Catawba Ridge off balance. The Copperheads added a run in the fifth as Kendra Murray doubled in Rocheleau as they scored a run on two hits in the inning. Catawba Ridge scored two more runs in the sixth inning as Lawrence would double in Georgia Burford and Ilacqua.
Fort Mill did add a run in both the sixth and seventh, but never had enough momentum to get them over the hump.
“We played hard,” said Fort Mill assistant coach Will Jameson, serving in place of head coach Chuck Stegall, who was out after having a recent surgery. “Catawba Ridge is a good team. Every game is going to be tough for us. We don’t have a cupcake on the schedule.”
Fort Mill was led by Drerup, who went 3-4 with a double, and Wall, who had the home run. The Jackets fall to 0-1 on the season with the loss.
The Jackets are scheduled to take on Lancaster on the road Wednesday, before returning home Friday against White Knoll. Catawba Ridge is scheduled to play at Nation Ford Tuesday.
Other games…
The Fort Mill boys’ golf team opened their season with a 167-181 win over Catawba Ridge at Tega Cay Golf Club. Fort Mill was led by a 40 from Cam Baker, followed by a 41 from Parker Harrington and a 42 from Alex Martin. Austin Anderson finished with a 44 for the Jackets. Catawba Ridge was led by a 40 from OT Mitchell and a pair of 45s from Parrish Fox and Hunter Warren, followed by a 51 from Chandler Kissel.
The Fort Mill boys’ tennis team opened the season with a 4-2 win over Rock Hill and the Catawba Ridge boys’ tennis team opened their season with a 6-0 win over Northwestern.
The Catawba Ridge girls’ lacrosse team beat Independence out of Charlotte 13-4 to improve to 2-3 overall on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
