Lady Warriors move ahead in tournament

Rick Patrick
ECB Publishing, Inc.

The Aucilla Christian Academy (ACA) have progressed further in the state softball tournament than the program has since the 2018 season when the Lady Warriors made it all the way to the championship game. After winning the Class 1A District Five championship by defeating the Red Flashes of Hilliard High School, the Lady Warriors hosted a rematch with the Red Flashes on Thursday, May 11. The Lady Warriors made the most of limited base hits to defeat the Red Flashes, 5-4.
The Lady Warriors struck first with two runs in their half of the first inning. The Red Flashes were able to tie the score in the top of the third inning, prompting the Lady Warriors to retake the lead with one run in the bottom of the third inning. The game remained at 3-2 until the Lady Warriors added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh inning, the Lady Warriors were able to hold off a rally by the Red Flashes to take the contest.
Harli Ray went one-for-four at the plate, with one RBI. Megan Wellman had the only other hit for the Lady Warriors, going one-for-two in the batter's box.
Emma Vickers picked up the win in the pitcher's circle for the Lady Warriors, giving up five hits, one earned run, five walks and tallying eight strike-outs.
The victory paved the way for the Lady Warriors to play for the Region Three Championship against the Lady Buccaneers of Branford High School on Tuesday, May 16.
The Region Three Championship game was a low-scoring pitcher's duel between Branford's Laila Arnold and ACA's Emma Vickers. The Lady Warriors struggled at the plate and managed just one base hit during the contest and fell to the Lady Buccaneers, 2-0.
Lauren Davis produced the sole base hit for the Lady Warriors.
Vickers went the distance in the pitcher's circle for the Lady Warriors, giving up five hits, one earned run, one walk and striking out six.
The Lady Warriors posted a 14-8 record for the season and took a district championship, progressing to the region final for the first time since the 2018 season, when they played for a state championship.