By Craig Brown

The Dillon Christian School Lady Warriors fell 11-8 to the Lady Saints of Scotland Christian School of Laurinburg on Tuesday at Warrior Field.

The Saints return most of last year’s team which won their region in North Carolina and look very strong again this year. The Saints seem to be the Warriors bad luck team as the Warriors always match up well against them but just can’t come out on the top end of the scoreboard.

The Warriors matched 13 hits for 13, struck out seven batters to six for the Saints, and three Warrior batters got to base on walks to zero for the Saints. The Warriors made four errors and the Saints made three, but in the end the Saints had three more runs for the win, and that is the way it always seems to go for the Warriors when they play the Saints.

The Saints took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Kaylynn Cook sent a line shot down the first base line and then curved and rolled into the corner of the right field fence for an inside the park homerun. The Warriors went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the first on hits by Leah Stephens and Emilie Martin.

The Saints picked up three runs from two hits and two Warrior errors in the top of the third to go up 4-2. The Warriors had hits from Sara Bass, Myra Bracey, and Madison Moody; a triple by Samantha Carpenter; and a base on an error for Jamie Carpenter, but only came up with one run and trailed the Saints 4-3 after three innings played.

The Saints added three runs in the top of the fourth inning on four hits and a base on an error to go ahead 7-3. The Warriors got two runs in the bottom of the fourth on a hit by Emilie Martin and a triple by Samantha Carpenter, and Madison King got to base on an error to close the inning with the Warriors trailing the Saints 7-5.

The Saints produced four hits and one runner to base on an error to gain another four runs and an 11-5 lead, holding this lead after five innings played. The Saints put one runner to base in the top of the sixth but the Warriors put the next three batters down with no more damage on the 11-5 Saint lead.

Base hits by Ansley Hamer and Sara Bass and a base on an error for Emilie Martin gave the Warriors one run to close the inning trailing 11-6. The Warriors left three on base as the inning closed. The Warrior fielders put the Saints three up and out in the top of the seventh and picked up two runs in the bottom of the inning but could not keep the rally going, taking the 11-8 loss.

On the mound for the Saints, Cecily Thompson posted five strikeouts, walked two batters with one batter to base on a hit by a pitch, and gave up nine hits and five runs scored in five innings on the mound for the win. Kinsley Sheppard added one strikeout, one batter to base on a hit by a pitch, and allowed four hits with three runs scored in two innings on the mound.

For the Warriors, Jamie Carpenter posted seven strikeouts with no walked batters and gave up 13 hits with seven earned runs and four unearned for the loss.

At bat for the Saints, Kaylynn Cook was 4-for-4 with two doubles and a homerun with four RBI; Carle Howard was 2-for-3; Kaitlin Cartrette was 2-for-4 with a triple and a RBI; Emily Jorgenson was 2-for-4 with two fielder’s choice hits; Kandace Cartrette was 1-for-3 with a fielder’s choice and a RBI; Cecily Thompson was 1-for-4; Destiny Cartrette was 1-for-5, getting to base on two errors with two RBI; and Kiera Bjork got to base on three errors with two RBI.

At bat for the Warriors, Samantha Carpenter was 2-for-3 with two triples, two RBI, and one walk; Sara Bass was 2-for-4 with a RBI; Ansley Hamer was 2-for-5 with a fielder’s choice and a RBI; Emilie Martin was 2-for-5 with a RBI and two stolen bases, also getting to base on an error; Madison Moody was 1-for-2; Leah Stephens was 1-for-4 with a double and a RBI with a stolen base; Madison King was 1-for-4 getting to base on an error, a hit by a pitch, and a walk with a fielder’s choice; Myra Bracey was 1-for-3 and made it to base on a hit by a pitch; and Erin Hamer got to base on a walk.

Coaches Norm Norton and Danny Ellis remarked about the improved efforts of the players and the continued attitude improvement. Three players were singled out for their performance in the field. Hannah Walters, in her first year at first base, has made some outstanding catches to keep the team in the games. Emilie Martin has been super as the team’s catcher and Samantha Carpenter holds down the shortstop position like a seasoned veteran.

The Warriors will host Trinity/Byrnes Collegiate School this Thursday at Warrior Field in a double header with the first game set for 4 p.m. and will travel to Laurinburg on Friday for a rematch with Scotland Christian with game time set for 4 p.m.

Photos by Craig Brown. Click the images below to view at full size!