BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE OBSERVER
LOACHAPOKA — Jada Ware threw Loachapoka High School’s first-ever one-hitter and Essense Key hit a four-run inside-the-park home run as the Lady Indians defeated LaFayette High School twice on senior night on April 8.
The Lady Indians took the opener 18-3 in four innings by way of the mercy rule before Jada Ware’s one-hitter and Loachapoka’s bats shut the door in the second game, which finished 19-0 and was also called early.
With the wins, the Lady Indians improved to 4-4 overall and 2-1 in 2A Area 6 play, while the Lady Bulldogs started 0-2 overall and 0-2 in Area 6 after playing their first games of the season.
Loachapoka head coach Hope Felton praised her five seniors’ unity, chemistry and growth during their five years together in the program.
“They’ve been committed and dedicated, and they have come to practice and stayed focused throughout the whole season,” Felton said. “It’s all about being disciplined overall, listening to your coaches, being mindful, paying attention and being a part of the game. So for them to be able to do all that is a testament.”
After taking part in senior night festivities, Ware’s career night was an ideal way to end one of her final home games.
After learning of her achievement, the senior pitcher said she was surprised she was the first softball player in school history to throw a near-flawless game.
“I didn’t even know what a one-hitter was. I just tried my best to come back from a very tough time against Reeltown, so it just felt great feeling those emotions from my teammates,” Ware said. “[My time here has] meant a lot. I’ve done so much here my whole life. It’s just sad to leave. I don’t want to leave, but everything comes to an end.”
Game 1
Serving as the visitors in what was a makeup game, the Lady Indians wasted no time. Essense Key opened the scoring in the first inning with a hit that, aided by a fielding error at first, brought Zakaria Garrett home from first base. A sacrifice fly later in the frame plated Key from third.
However, LaFayette showed fight and answered in the bottom half when Walton scored from third on a bunt by Laborde.
Loachapoka then blew the game open with an eight-run second inning. Highlights included Maria Ramirez’s inside-the-park home run and Key’s four-run inside-the-park home run that scored Skyler Davis, Jessica Rojas and Garrett.
Davis added another run in the third, crossing the plate on a Rojas single and an error.
The Lady Indians finished their scoring in the fourth with runs that included a pair of extra-base hits. Among them were Talayah Tables’ inside-the-park home run deep to left field that also scored Ju’kerianna Turk from first, and Eleasure McLennon’s line-drive double just inside the left-field foul line that plated Ramirez.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, the Lady Bulldogs refused to quit, tallying two more runs in the bottom of the fourth before the mercy rule was enforced. Chat Lewis stole home from third after the catcher failed to handle a dropped third strike, and Deazia Avery scored from third on a Walton single to center.
Game 2
Back in the home dugout for the regularly scheduled contest, the Lady Indians sent 15 batters to the plate in a first inning that effectively decided the game.
While a significant portion of the scoring came in the form of walks, Loachapoka also drove in runs with its bats.
Among them were singles from Ware and Turk that brought home Garrett and Key, respectively, while Rojas later placed a two-RBI single into center that plated Tables and Ramirez.
Garrett also recorded a double that brought Rojas home, while Key drove Garrett in late in the inning.
The Lady Indians added seven more in the second. While Loachapoka again benefited from several walks, their bats similarly had a say.
Turk tripled to left to clear the bases, scoring Rojas, Garrett and Ware. Tables later followed with a run-scoring single down the left-field line before McLennon singled home Tables.
