SB falls to Avery, 13-5

• SB falls to Avery, 13-5

SULPHUR BLUFF — The Sulphur Bluff Lady Bears had their season come to a disappointing end Thursday following a 13-5 loss to the Avery Lady Bulldogs in the Bi-District round of the playoffs. Over the course of the game, the Lady Bears weren’t able to establish any rhythm and couldn’t keep Avery off balance, leading to a tough loss.

The Lady Bears stepped up the plate first. The game started with Natalie Carrell being walked. Later on, Carrell was caught stealing second base, leading to an out.

After Emma Neal grounded out, a runner was gained when Emma Carr reached base on an error. The Lady Bears’ turn ended when Jayden Forester grounded out.

The Lady Bulldogs came to the plate next, facing Neal in the circle. They started their turn with an inside-the-park home run, taking a 1-0 lead.

After a strikeout and a fly out, another inside-thepark home run extended the Lady Bulldogs’ lead to 2-0. A fly out followed, closing out the first inning.

The second inning started with Riley Hart and Xavannah Gonzalez being walked. Unfortunately, three straight outs followed when Gonzalez was picked off at first base, and both Kadence Smith and Skyler Sheffield struck out.

The bottom of the second inning kicked off with a batter getting hit by a pitch and a double. An error on the next at-bat led to another run, as Avery extended their lead to 3-0. This was followed by a walk, loading up the bases.

After a strikeout, another walk brought home a run, bringing the score to 4-0. Another run was then scored on a passed ball, raising the Lady Bulldogs’ lead to 5-0.

A sacrifice RBI on the next at-bat led to another run, bringing the score to 6-0. A line out followed, bringing the second inning to a close.

The third inning began with Shelbi Griffin striking out and Carrell hitting a pop fly ball for an out. Though a runner was gained when Neal hit a single, their turn ended when Carr grounded out.

The bottom of the third inning started with a hit by pitch and a walk. A fielder’s choice then led to an out, but a run was also scored, raising Avery’s lead to 7-0.

An RBI single brought home another run, bringing the score to 8-0. The inning came to an end after consecutive ground outs.

The fourth inning began with the Lady Bears loading up the bases after Forester hit a single, and both Hart and Dylan Strain were hit by pitches. After Smith struck out, Sheffield walked, bringing Forester home and trimming the score to 8-1.

Gonzalez walked next, bringing Hart home and cutting the score to 8-2. Carrell then hit a 2-RBI single, bringing Strain and Sheffield home and trimming the deficit to 8-4. The Lady Bears’ turn then ended when Neal flew out into a double play, where Carrell was out at first for failing to tag up.

The bottom of the fourth inning started with a pair of singles. Soon after, a run was scored on a steal of home, bringing the score to 9-4. Two outs followed on a pop out and a runner caught stealing.

An RBI single then led to another run, as Avery extended their lead to 10-4. Following a double, a runner caught stealing home ended the inning.

The fifth inning started with Carr hitting a fly ball for an out. A runner was gained when Forester walked afterwards.

After Hart struck out, Strain walked. Their turn ended when Smith grounded out.

The bottom of the fifth inning started with the Lady Bulldogs loading up the bases on an error, a walk, and a batter hit by a pitch. Soon after, the next batter popped into a triple play, ending the inning, with Avery still leading 10-4.

The Lady Bears were retired in order to begin the sixth inning, ad Sheffield grounded out, and both Zaylee Peyton and Carrell struck out.

The bottom of the sixth inning began with a pop out. The bases then loaded up on a single, a hit by pitch, and a walk. An RBI single followed, bringing home another run and extending the Lady Bulldogs’ lead to 11-4.

The next batter grounded into a fielder’s choice, leading to another out. An error then led to a pair of runs, raising the score to 13-4. A runner was then picked off, closing out the sixth inning.

The seventh inning started with Neal being walked. Consecutive outs followed when Carr grounded out, and Neal was picked off at third base.

The bases then loaded up when Forester, Hart, and Strain all walked. Smith was hit by a pitch next, bringing Forester home and trimming the score to 13-5. The game then ended when Sheffield grounded out, as Avery closed out a 13-5 win.

As a team, the Lady Bears batted just 3 for 21 (.143) from the plate. Carrell, Forester, and Neal all recorded one hit each. Forester was the leading scorer with two runs, while Hart, Sheffield, and Strain added one run each.

Neal suffered the loss in the circle. Across six innings, she surrendered 13 runs (nine earned), 10 hits, and five walks, managing two strikeouts.

With the loss, the Lady Bears’ season has come to an end. They finish the season as district runners-up and Bi-District finalists.

This would also be the final high school softball game for five senior Lady Bears: Forester, Neal, Sheffield, BreAnna Stanley, and Strain.

The Lady Bears will look to improve in the off-season and make a deeper playoff run next year.