Mt. Pleasant top the Tigers

Visiting Tigers scratched off 11 hits to overcome Texas 9-3

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Kailyn Williams

Mt. Pleasant sophomore Morgan Hill takes a pitch in her at bat in the first inning of the Tiger vs. Tiger match up Mar 29, 2022 in Texarkana. Mt. Pleasant defeated the Tigers 9-3.

Story by Kailyn Williams, Staff Writer

The Lady Tigers dropped their district record to 2-4 in their sixth conference game against Mt. Pleasant on Mar 29. 

To open the first inning sophomore Ella Cross was administered a leadoff walk to get the Tiger offense started. Sophomore Morgan Hill moved Cross into scoring position after grounding out to senior pitcher Lizzie Smith. Sophomore Conlee Zachry hit a hard line drive to center field that was caught by senior Valeria Perez. Sophomore Jordan Androck hit a bouncing groundball to sophomore Mally Lumpkin, who made an error on the throw, Cross scored from second base on the error. Freshman Kelsey Howard lined out to right field to close the top of the first. 

The Lady Tigers leadoff sophomore Mollie Fisher boarded on a walk to start the bottom of the first. Perez lined out to Androck at shortstop. Junior Emma Prince hit Fisher into a 6-4-3 double play to get Mt. Pleasant out of the inning. At the bottom of the first, Mt. Pleasant led 1-0.

Smith gave up her second walk to Mt. Pleasant junior Jordyn Hargrave. Sophomore Amariya Miller gave Prince a chance to redeem herself, who executed a 5-4-3 double play to clear the bases for Texas. Sophomore Casey Jones lined out to Prince to end the top of the second.

Senior Lauren Allred became the fourth straight leadoff walk of the game to open the bottom of the second. Lumpkin hit a ground ball up the middle to leave Texas with runners at second and first. After a ball to Smith, catcher Hill for Mt. Pleasant throws down to first at Lumpkin who got in a run down. Allred scored from second on the rundown, tying the game, but Lumpkin was tagged out at first. Smith struck out, and sophomore Anna Lee grounded out to pitcher Zachry. At the end of the second, the Tigers were knotted at 1.

Sophomore Kaylee Silman at the bottom of the lineup led off the top of the third for Mt. Pleasant with a pop fly base hit to sophomore Brooklyn Threadgill. Cross at the top of the lineup hit a ground ball to shortstop Fisher, who took the fielder’s choice out at second. Hill hit a short line drive to right fielder Lee, who got the fielder’s choice out at second. Zachry picked up her first base hit and RBI of the night in the top of the third with a shot to right field, scoring Hill. Androck hit a ground ball to Fisher who made an error on the play, Zachry scored from second on the error. Androck advanced to second on a passed ball, but Howard grounded out to Prince to close the half inning. 

Sophomore Caitlin Salisbury ledoff the bottom of the third with a hard ground ball to right field. Right fielder Silman attempted to throw Salisbury out at first but over threw Jones, Salisbury advanced on the error. Fisher grounded out to third baseman Miller, Salisbury advanced on the out. Perez hit a slow roller up the third base foul line, Salisbury dodged a tag and scored. Perez advanced to second during the commotion at home plate. Prince grounded out to Androck to close the third. After three, Mt. Pleasant led Texas 3-2. 

Smith got out of the fourth inning with two quick fly outs, one line drive to center by Jones, and a ground out to second base. 

Allred started the bottom of the fourth with a base hit to shortstop. Lumpkin scored Allred with a triple to right field, then was thrown out at third after a rundown. The fourth inning closed after Lee grounded out to third and Smith struck out. After the fourth inning, the game was tied 3-3.

Cross opened the fifth inning for Mt. Pleasant with a hard ground ball to right field. After a line out to short by Hill, Conlee Zachry tacked on two more runs with a shot over the center field wall. Androck flew out to first base to close the top of the fifth.

The Mt. Pleasant Tigers sat down Texas High in order in the bottom of the fifth with two strikeouts and a flyout. After the fifth inning, Mt. Pleasant led Texas High 5-3. 

Hargrave started the top of the sixth inning with a double off the right field wall, followed by a line drive to center by Miller. Junior Paris Beard was put in to pinch run for Miller and stole second. A wild pitch scored Hargave. Silman struck out and Beard advanced on the third strike. Jones hit a ground ball to center, followed by a line out from Cross. Hill was administered a walk, and Zachry continued her hitting success with a ground ball to center to score Beard. Hill scored on a line drive to left field by Androck. The Lady Tigers made a pitching change, subbing Fisher into the circle for Smith. Howard flew out to center field to end the long inning for Mt. Pleasant. 

Perez lined out to hargrave at second base to open the bottom of the sixth. Prince hit a double to center field, followed by a line out to center by Lumpkin. Smith ended the inning with a ground out to shortstop. After the sixth inning the Mt. Pleasant Tigers extended their lead to 9-3.

Fisher made three quick outs in the top of the seventh with two ground outs and a fly out.

Lee struck out looking to open the top of the seventh inning, and Salisbury hit a long fly ball to center caught by Cross. Lancaster walked, but the game ended after a lineout to short by Fisher.

Mt. Pleasant high school came out on top with a score of 9-3.