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RAYMOND, Miss. — Bowling Green School’s Lady Buccaneers took second in Class 3A after coming up short in the second game in a best-of-three, 4-2, to Clinton Christian Academy on Saturday evening at Rene T. Warren Field on the campus of Hinds Community College.
The game was scoreless through three innings before Bowling Green broke through with two runs on five hits.
Cassidy Spears began the frame by crushing a pitch to left field that was gone — a no-doubt home run to give the Lady Buccaneers a 1-0 lead.
Later in the frame, Morgan Carpenter singled and she scored when Madelyn Burch singled her home to make it 2-0.
But Clinton responded with three runs in its half of the fourth.
Hanna Zeitz singled. With one out, Iris Farve hit a pop up. The catcher, pitcher and third baseman came in, but the ball was not caught. It was originally ruled foul, but was overturned to fair, allowing Farve to reach. Makiya Hunter walked to load the bases. Rilee Evans then hit a three-run triple to right field, giving CCA a 3-2 lead.
“We had some tough calls that inning, but to be honest, great teams overcome those kind of calls and get the next batter out. I couldn’t be prouder of my team,” Bowling Green School coach David Hood Burris said. “To be real honest, there were several points throughout the season that I didn’t even think we’d make it here, and honestly, just swallowing my pride, I think the best team won. If we played our best and they played their best, we’re two pretty even teams, but I think they’re the best team in the state regardless of class 1 through 5A and my hat’s off to them.
“It’s just tough going through that lineup two or three times and keeping them off-balanced. There are no breaks, but that’s giving credit to them. They went out and took it, but I think us two teams should be right back here next year hopefully.”
Clinton Christian Academy added one more in the fifth inning.
Rae Rae York doubled, moved to third on a Zeitz’s sacrifice bunt and she tallied on Maddie Weeks’ sacrifice fly to make it 4-2.
Zeitz was tough in the circle for Clinton Christian Academy.
Zeitz retired the Bowling Green in order in every inning except the first and fourth inning. Spears drew a walk in the opening frame. Zeitz went the distance, allowing two runs on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Also offensively for the Lady Buccaneers, Dixie Camaille doubled and Kylee Burris singled.
Bowling Green had four seniors in Burch, Carpenter, Abby Hodges and Hannah Varnado.
“Obviously you’re never going to replace No. 2 (Burch) in the circle. You’ve just got to put somebody else out there, it’s next man up, but you’re never going to get that again,” coach Burris said. “I don’t even know without looking, but I’m going to venture to say she’s probably got 200, 250 strikeouts on the season and you’re not going to ever replace that. She’s going to go on to finish her career in college and she’ll probably hold records at this school that’ll never be broken by a pitcher, as far as strikeouts, innings pitched and games won. She’s been pitching on the varsity level since the sixth grade, not just JV (junior varsity).
“The other girls, we’re obviously going to lose some defense and hitting with Morgan (Carpenter) and Abby (Hodges) and all of that. I’ll just be real honest, I don’t know if we’ll ever replace a Hannah Varnado, No. 18. She didn’t get to play as much as she’d like to this year probably, but you’ll never have a better teammate, a more coachable kid, a better Christian.
“She’s led us in prayer in the three years that I’ve been here and hasn’t missed a game doing it. It’s just a testament to what kind of kid she is and we’re going to miss them all.”