By Scott Nickerson
Elmore Autauga News
Tied 2-2 in the top of the 7th inning of a Class 4A Central Regional game against American Christian Academy, Peyton Thrash delivered a two out single that brought home two runs for Prattville Christian Academy. In the bottom of the 7th, Alivia Messick gave up one unearned run, but was able to close out the decisive game and send the Panthers to the Class 4A State Tournament next week in Oxford. The trip will mark the 5th straight year the Panthers have made the State Tournament.
Prattville Christian Academy won their first two games of the Class 4A Central Regional on Monday, defeating Sipsey Valley 9-7 and Bibb County 1-0. In the victory over Bibb County, PCA pitcher Laura Nesmith threw a complete game shutout, allowing only five hits and striking out seven.
In their first game on Tuesday, the Panthers fell 4-0 to Northside, setting up the Panthers with a must-win game against American Christian Academy in a match that would determine who would be the second team to advance out of the Class 4A Central Regional. With the game tied at 1 in the top of the 6th inning, Kandice Crosby doubled on a line drive, bringing in the go-ahead run. But the lead didn’t last long, as American Christian Academy struck back and tied the game in the bottom of the 6th, prior to Panthers scoring two runs on the hit by Thrash in the final inning.
“We came out flat in the first game today,” said PCA Coach Randy Stough. “We challenged the team to step up and play with more enthusiasm and match the intensity. We had some key hits at the right time against American Christian Academy. Kandice Crosby had a big double, and Peyton Thrash had a base hit in the last inning that scored two runs. Messick pitched a good game and our defense played great behind her, but ACA has a good team. It was a battle.”
The Panthers will now turn their focus to the Class 4A State Softball Tournament next week in Oxford, Alabama. Also in the Class 4A State Tournament is Orange Beach, currently ranked #4 in the entire nation by MaxPreps.
Good luck to PCA next week at the State Tournament in Oxford!
