Lady Patriots Get The “3-peat”

The softball team at Pinewood Christian Academy capture the GISA 3A Softball State Championship title for the third consecutive year. The Lady Patriots began the 2016 season with a goal to repeat their previous two season as state champs, and the slogan “3-peat” was born. They finished the regular season play with a 20-2 record, and Region 2AAA champs.

State playoffs began in round 2 for the Lady Patriots, as they drew a buy in the first round. They hosted Gatewood in a best two of three game series and was able to move forward with no problem taking the first game 12-0, and the second 12-1. Raegan Waters was on the mound for PCA in both wins. The highlight of the day was a grand slam by Carleigh Bell in the first inning and another homer in the 4^th inning of game 1. Maggie Greer and Raegan Waters both hit homeruns in the game 2, and the Patriots moved on to the third round of state play.

Round 3 was on the road to Newnan, GA home of the Lady Hawks of Heritage Academy. This round was not as easy for PCA. All three games would be needed to secure a spot in the championship game. Game 1 in the series started off on track as Shelton Rogers and Carleigh Bell were scored by a double from Abigail Bland for a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Heritage came back with 1 run, but the bats went cold for both teams and PCA wins 2-1. Game 2 the Lady Hawks gained control early, and Pinewood would be unable to answer until late in the game senior Abigail Bland hit a homerun but it was not enough. Heritage won 5-2. Game 3 was a battle but at the end of the day the Lady Patriots got the job done. 8-6 was the final score. Raegan Waters did a tremendous job on the mound for PCA all three games.

Valdosta State University was the site for the 2016 GISA AAA softball state championship. The Lady Patriots faced off with the Lady Trojans of John Milledge Academy.   PCA got off to a slow start but got the bats moving in the 4^th inning, and it was no stopping the Patriots. Two big homeruns by Carleigh Bell and several hits from Hanna Anderson, Shelton Rogers, Maggie Greer, Leanne Whiten, Macy Pirkle and Raegan Waters capped off game 1 in the championship series. Final score was 9-2. Six innings would be all the Lady Patriots would need in the final game to bring home the state title aka the “3-peat”. Scoring early, Shelton Rogers got a hit and stole second and third base. She was scored by Hanna Anderson. Carleigh Bell and Maggie Greer got on base and were brought in by a double from Abigail Bland. Reagan Waters, Leanne Whiten, and Macy Pirkle put hits up, and the score was 5-0 in the first inning. The hits kept coming throughout the game and ended with an in the park homerun by Jordan Jernigan at the top of the 6^th inning. Pinewood won 10-1. Raegan Waters was the winning pitcher for both games. The Lady Patriots are coached by Brett Lewis, Tracy Lynn, and Kelvin Goodson.   Congratulations on a job well done.