Lady Longhorns go 2-2 in opening week

The Lady Longhorns split a pair of games Saturday in the Clarke Prep Gator Classic, downing Class AAA Monroe Academy 8-7 before falling to Clarke Prep 8-5.

Marengo Academy 8, Monroe Academy 7

Macey Petrey and Brittan Davis combined in the circle to work toward the win over Monroe. Hannah Freeman went 2-for-3 in the contest with two runs scored. Ryan Hale was 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Petrey went 3-for-3 with one RBI and a pair of runs scored. Payton Stokes finished 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Mary Jordan Drake was 2-for-3 with one RBI and a run scored. Davis finished 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBIs.

Clarke Prep 8, Marengo Academy 5

In a game that saw the pitching duties handled by Carmen Maness and Corie Hall, six different Lady Longhorns recorded hits. Freeman was 1-for-2 with a run scored. Hale was 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored. Petrey went 1-for-1 with a double, a sacrifice, a run scored and one RBI. Drake went 1-for-2 with a double, a run scored and one RBI. Davis was 1-for-2 with one RBI while Stokes scored a run.

“This weekend was a learning curve for the Lady Longhorns. These tournament play games don’t count in the grand scheme. We experimented with several positions to see what we have to work with,” Lady Longhorn coach Christ Petrey said of the experience his team gained. “I like what I see. We have a lot of options defensively. The girls are hitting the ball hard, and I like that too. We are working hard. Very proud of these girls.”

The split capped a busy week for the Lady Longhorns, who stand at 2-2 on the young season.

Sumter Academy 14, Marengo Academy 10

Marengo opened the season with a 14-10 loss to Sumter Academy. The Lady Longhorns led 3-0 after one inning of play that featured a two-run homer off the bat of Stokes. Soon, however, the Lady Longhorns found themselves in a frenetic affair.

Freeman finished 1-for-3 with one RBI and a run scored. Petrey and Morgan Broadhead each singled and scored. Stokes added a double to her first inning home run and finished with two RBIs and three runs scored. Drake was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Davis had two hits with one RBI and a run scored. Hale also singled in the game.

Marengo Academy 6, South Choctaw 2

The Lady Longhorns rebounded Thursday with a 6-2 win over South Choctaw. Hall surrendered only four hits in the game, picking up the win in the contest. She walked none and struck out three.

Freeman went 1-for-2 with a pair of runs scored. Hale scored a run. Petrey finished 2-for-3 with one RBI and a run scored. Stokes went 1-for-2 with one RBI and a run scored. Drake singled and scored. Davis and Vickers each singled.