In its home finale and on senior night, the W.S. Neal Lady Eagle softball team could not manage a win for their two seniors as they lost to the Florala Lady Wildcats 1-0. The loss was the third straight for W.S. Neal as they fell to 12-12 overall heading into next week’s area tournament in East Brewton.
W.S. Neal had only three runners reach base the entire game, but was unable to manage a run.
Senior Kena Ellison had two singles and was left at third base in the first inning and second base in the sixth inning. Kaeli Brown had a single in the seventh inning and was left at second base after a passed ball.
The Lady Eagles managed only three hits in the loss and struck out 16 times.
While the Lady Eagles struck out 16 times at the plate, the other senior for W.S. Neal, Kaitlin Hadaway, did her best to help her team get the win in their regular season finale. The JDCC signee went the complete seven innings in the circle and allowed two hits, one unearned run, walked none and struck out 12 in the loss.
“My two seniors had a great game,” W.S. Neal Lady Eagle head coach Jeff Haney said. “My leadoff hitter (Ellison) had two hits. She got to second base once and to third base once. Nobody could drive her in. My pitcher (Hadaway) struck out 12 and gave up two hits. I can’t ask for them to do anymore. The rest of the team is just going to have to step it up or their season is going to be over too. It is that simple. If they can’t decide they want to come out and play, it will be a short day Tuesday (in the area tournament). It will be the end of their year.”
The Lady Wildcats broke the 0-0 tie in the second inning after a leadoff Lady Eagle error. Florala scored the game’s only run on a double after the leadoff batter stole second base.
W.S. Neal will be the No. 1 seed at next week’s area tournament and will face Bayside Academy in its first game at 2 p.m. in East Brewton.