The Jena Lady Giants softball team came into this past week on a 10-game winning streak to start the season and unbeaten in District 2-3A action. They ended the week with a record of 13-1 and ranked #1 in Division III Non-Select and in the driver’s seat for another district championship.
The Lady Giants would be in the middle of their district schedule as they would have to play Buckeye and Caldwell. Jena had already defeated Vidalia to start district play and was looking to keep their unbeaten record in district play.
On Tuesday, March 10, the Lady Giants traveled to Buckeye for what has become one of the best rivalries in the state between Jena and Buckeye. These two programs have been two of the best and most consistent over the past 15 years and have had some great battles in district.
The game would start out looking like Jena would run away with it as Callie Decker would lead the game off with a double to right field. The Lady Giants would score 2 runs in the inning and take a 2-0 lead. From that point the game would become a pitchers’ duel as Buckeye’s Kennadee Jeansonne would settle in and battle Jena’s Kiette Cooper who started the game getting the first 10 outs by strikeout. The only runs of the game would be the two that Jena scored in the 1st inning and they would go on to win 2-0.
Cooper would finish the game with 14 strikeouts and only gave up two hits. Callie Decker and Autumn Sharp both had doubles in the game.
On Thursday, March 12, the Lady Giants would return home to take on the Caldwell Lady Spartans. The Lady Giants bats would come alive early as they would score five runs in the 1st inning with the big hit coming from Bailey Durham who had a 2-RBI double in the inning.
In the 3rd inning, the Lady Giants would score six runs as Mary Wood would start the bottom half of the inning with a solo homerun to right center field. Sydney Williams would end the game in the bottom of the 4th inning as she would hit a double to right center field scoring RJ McDowell and Callie Decker to give the Lady Giants a 15-0 win in 4 innings.
Kiette Cooper would pick up the win as she only gave up one hit, one walk, and finished with seven strikeouts. Sydney Williams would finish the game 3-4 at the plate with a double, four RBIs, and two runs scored. Callie Decker had a hit, two RBIs, four runs scored, and two walks.
This past Saturday, March 14, the Lady Giants would travel to south Louisiana for two games in the Brusly tournament. In the first game the Lady Giants would take on the host Brusly. The game would be tied at 2 in the 7th inning when Sydney Williams would hit an RBI double to give the Lady Giants a 3-2 lead. Kiette Cooper would allow only one hit in the game and finish with 15 strikeouts to pick up the win.
In the second game the Lady Giants would take on ED White who would give the ladies their only loss on the season thus far by beating them 9-2. The Lady Giants are currently 13-1 on the season and ranked #2 in Division III Non-Select and currently in first place in District 2-3A.
This weekend the Lady Giants will be in Shreveport for the Calvary Baptist tournament and their next home game will be Monday, March 23, against Quitman at 5:30 p.m. They only have one more district game, set for March 26 against Marksville at Marksville.
Everyone is encouraged to come out and support the Lady Giants and their historic season.
This week’s Lady Giants sports page is sponsored by CLB The Community Bank.
