By Craig Brown

The Dillon Christian School Lady Warriors lost a non-region game 13-3 to the Lady Cavaliers of Robert E. Lee Academy Thursday in Dillon at Warrior Field.

The Warriors gave up 10 runs in the first two innings but settled down and began to play some good ball. The Warriors finally found the confidence needed to get the bat on the ball with only one Warrior strikeout recorded in this game. The Warriors added one run in the third inning while keeping the Cavaliers from reaching home.

The Cavaliers took a 13-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning but the Warriors had their best at bat inning of the season in the bottom of the fourth. The Warriors scored two runs and had the bases loaded with the three hottest batters in the game coming to bat. Two fielder’s choice hits resulting in two RBIs had the Warriors down to their last out.

A hard hit grounder by Makalai Sweat sent the Cavalier third baseman reaching. Sweat beat the throw by three steps. The base umpire decided to make a call from third base when the play was clearly out of his view. The Cavalier first baseman said that she thought the runner safe. If the run counted, the game would continue but the Warriors were in position to possibly add more runs as the Cavaliers had to bring in a relief pitcher and the Warrior batters were connecting with her pitches.

Umpires have told me off the record that some umpires want the games to end early and will make questionable calls. No one is saying that is what happened here but just that it was a very bad call that broke the hearts of some young ladies that have struggled all year and were finally starting to believe in themselves.

On the mound for the Warriors, Jamie Carpenter posted two strikeouts with no walked batters giving up three earned runs. Kate Furman started for the Cavaliers and gave up three hits with six walked batters and three runs scored for the win.

At bat for the Warriors, Makalai Sweat was 2-for-3 with two RBIs; Madison King was 1-for-2 also getting to base on a fielder’s choice; Ansley Hamer and Lauren Lee made it to base on a fielder’s choice hits; and Greta Seay and Katie Tyner got to base on two walks each with Seay stealing two bases and scoring a run. Kathryn Brown and Jamie Carpenter also got to base on walks.

On defense, Madison King played a perfect game in center field. Warrior third baseman Emily Martin had to leave the game and check into the hospital with a mild concussion. Martin gives 100%-plus every game. Although not allowed on the field for Friday’s practice, she did show up to wish Head Coach Norm Norton a happy 70th birthday.

Sarah Fitzgibbon, Kathryn Brown, Makalai Sweat and Ansley Hamer also added some good glove play. Fitzgibbon also sent the ball deep at bat but some good outfielding kept her off the bases.

The Warriors were scheduled to be at home Monday hosting Trinity/Byrnes School and will travel to Marlboro Academy on Thursday for a 5:00 p.m. game.

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