By By Rocky Higginbotham/The Meridian Star
April 18, 2001
BUTLER, Ala. A host of the Patrician Academy Lady Saints are still peeved about falling short of their goal of a state championship repeat in fast-pitch softball last spring.
This season, the Lady Saints are trying to make up for it.
Patrician moved one step closer to the Alabama Independent School Association's upcoming state tournament Tuesday, when the Lady Saints blanked area rival Jackson Academy 12-0.
The win lifted Patrician to a perfect 12-0 this season, and more importantly, moved the Lady Saints to 5-0 in Class 2A West, Area 1 action.
PA will be in action again Thursday when the Lady Saints host cross-county rival South Choctaw Academy in another area game. If Patrician which beat SCA 5-0 earlier this season can top the Lady Rebels again Thursday, the Lady Saints could clinch the area title and a trip to the AISA state tourney in Montgomery, Ala., May 4-5.
Coach Wendell Barr's Lady Saints didn't waste any time getting the momentum Tuesday, scoring four times in the bottom of the first inning. The Lady Saints added two in the second and six in the third which was more than enough for junior ace Kirby Baxter.
Baxter tossed her third no-hitter of the season, striking out seven and working her way around three walks to improve to 10-0.
At the plate, Megan Littlepage was 2-for-2, Ainsley Bruister was 2-for-3 and Jena Norton knocked in three runs to lead Patrician.
Rocky Higginbotham is the sports editor of The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rhigginbotham@themeridianstar.com.