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<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"FT. WALTON BEACH, FLA. \u2014 Chris Edwards\u2019 North Laurel Lady Jaguars finished their stay in the Florida Softball Beach Bash the same way they started it \u2014 with a win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It wasn\u2019t the easiest of wins, but the Lady Jaguars accomplished what good teams do, they never panicked even when they were down to their final three outs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Laurel scored a run in the top of the seventh inning while adding another in the top of the eighth to knock off Fern Creek in nine innings with a 9-8 victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lady Tigers had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the eighth when Lady Jaguars pitcher Haley Cooper got a Fern Creek batter to hit into a double play. Ellie Adams caught a line drive and stepped on third base to double up the Lady Tiger runner, securing the win for North Laurel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnother good game by my girls today,\u201d Edwards said. \u201cFern Creek has a really good pitcher and it was a nip and tuck, 4-3, game into the fifth inning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur pitchers were stretched a little thin toward the end of the week,\u201d he added. \u201cOne of them went home sick, so Reagan Isaac and Haley Cooper had to step up again today. On a bad note, we gave up seven walks to which five of them scored. But in spite of that, they both kept us in a position to be in the game and win the game. Really proud of their fight and willingness to take the softball when we need them to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Edwards\u2019 squad has now won six in a row for the second time this season while improving to 12-1 overall. The Lady Jaguars posted a 5-0 mark during their stay in Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe came down here to bond as a team, play other teams we wouldn\u2019t normally get a chance to play, and see good competition and good pitching,\u201d Edwards said. \u201cThis week we have seen all of that with four of the five games essentially a toss up. We played to our strengths all week and were fortunate to win all of them and that\u2019s a testament to my team and the hard work they have been putting in. Now it\u2019s time to relax a bit, get home and celebrate Easter, practice Monday, and prepare to get into district play.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senior Emily Sizemore led the way again for the Lady Jaguars, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two triples, an RBI, and three runs scored. Reagan Issac was 2-for-3 at the plate, connecting with a home run while finishing with two RBI, and one run scored. Katie Keen, Katie Sams, and Saige McClure each finished with a hit, an RBI, and a run scored apiece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bella Sizemore finished with a hit while Cooper scored once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOffensively, we hit pretty well,\u201d Edwards said. \u201cAgain, their pitcher threw it really well but we found our swing and got some timely hits. We also had four triples in this game by taking advantage of our speed on these slightly larger fields. We also had RBI production from five different girls today. That\u2019s always a good sign.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Isaac started in the pitcher\u2019s circle, pitching five innings, allowing seven hits, and five earned runs while striking out four batters. Cooper tossed three innings, giving up two hits, and three earned runs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDefensively, we caught the ball like we should have again and like I\u2019ve said a thousand times before, we are going to be in a lot of games if we catch the ball,\u201d Edwards said. \u201cFern Creek had the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth with one out, and we finished the game with a terrific double play by Ellie Adams on a hard line drive she handled, and then tagged the runner on third. Great way to end a great week. Go Jags.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n