On August 21,  Lady Canes softball faced Sandy Creek’s Lady Patriots. The opposing team began strong, putting up three runs in the first inning. In fact, the Canes didn’t score until the second inning and remained down by one going into the third.

Coach Shannon Suarez says the team “lacked timely hitting,” which almost cost the Lady Canes the game. In the top of the fourth, Presly Edwards, #28, rallied the team with a double over the left fielder’s head, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Lauren McElhaney, #23, moving Edwards to third. Freshman Brooklyn Pittman, #4, then reached first base on an error, leading to Edwards’ tying run.

The game remained tied until the eighth, due in large part to stellar pitching by senior Colbi Ballard, #12. A dropped ball by Sandy Creek’s pitcher allowed a would-be-strikeout to make it to first. Mattie Johnson, #11, then shook the defense even more with a sacrifice bunt, advancing Emery Jenkins, #1, to third. Following #2, Hope Short’s intentional walk, Jenkins was able to score the winning run on a passed ball.

The Lady Canes walked away from a nail-biter, winning 5-4.