Veterans softball bounces back in region doubleheader against Coffee 

KATHLEEN — The Veterans Lady Warhawks (8-1, 2-1 Region 2-5A) responded with back-to-back home wins after a 9-4 loss at Coffee (3-3, 1-2 Region) on Tuesday.

In the first game, Veterans won 4-3 chipping away from behind nearly all game until Kharisma “Rizzy” White hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to take the lead for good. The Lady Warhawks dominated in the second matchup offensively and coasted to a 7-1 win.

Veterans was led defensively by complete games in the circle by Maddy Kinkade and White. Rayven Hodridge led the offense, reaching base in all eight of her at-bats over the two games.

Game One — Veterans 4, Coffee 3

Kinkade started on the mound for the Lady Warhawks in the first game Thursday night.

Veterans struggled to get in a rhythm at the top of the first. Kinkade hit the first batter and a mishandled bunt put runners on second and third with no outs. After getting one out at the plate, an awkward, slowly hit ground ball scored the Lady Trojans’ first run and put two runners in scoring position. A two-run double cleared the bases before Veterans got out of the inning.

Hodridge led off for Veterans with a hard-hit ground ball to third against Lady Trojan’s pitcher Maggie Brown. After Braylin Horton bunted to push Hodridge to second, White hit a double off the fence to score one.

The defense settled in, but the offense couldn’t make up much ground in the second.

In the bottom of the third, the top of the Veteran’s lineup was due. Hodridge bunted for a hit and proceeded to steal second and third base. White stepped up to the plate and hit her second double, scoring one to make it 3-2 Coffee at the end of the inning.

It looked like the Lady Trojans might add to their lead in the top of the fifth as they led off with a double. The Lady Warhawks’ defense buckled down as White and first baseman Katelyn Haines completed a double play to end the side and give their offense another chance.

Hodridge led off with a line-drive single past third base, and though she ended up advancing to third base, it didn’t matter as White unloaded a two-run home run to right-center field and brought her home to take the 4-3 lead.

From there the defense retired six straight to secure the win.

Game Two — Veterans 7, Coffee 1

After her offensive heroics in game one, White stepped up in the circle and pitched seven innings in game two.

Her sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first also scored the Lady Warhawks’ first run as Hodridge was brought home.

The defense kept the Coffee offense at bay, despite allowing a double with one out in the top of the third inning. That runner advanced to third base on a wild pitch, but as they tried to get to home plate on a fly ball, Horton delivered a missile to home to complete the double play and end the side.

The offense exploded in the bottom of the third, scoring five runs to bring it to 6-0.

Coffee added their one and only run in the top of the fourth, and Veterans added one more in the bottom of the sixth to make the final 7-1 Lady Warhawks.

UP NEXT

Veterans bounced back in a big way after their first loss of the season on Tuesday.

Veterans softball coach Jeff Sans commented on his team’s resilience after the game.

“Well, we got our butts kicked Tuesday, and then got down three to nothing in the first game… I’m just proud of the girls, they didn’t fold or cave. They scratched back and won the first one and took over in the second one. I’m proud of them,” Sans said.

Veterans’ defensive night was highlighted by strong pitching and stronger defense. Kinkade and White both pitched complete games but were not dominant in a typical sense.

Kinkade ended with only one strikeout and White ended with two. The Lady Warhawks’ bullpen relied on their ability to bait weak ground balls or flyouts and trusted in their defense to stand tall behind them. Four runs over 14 innings marks that strategy a success.

Hodridge led the charge offensively on Thursday. Her knack for getting on base and stealing bags allowed Veterans to manufacture runs the way they did.

Apart from Hodridge’s five hits, three walks, five stolen bases, and a perfect on-base percentage between the two games, Sans commented on Hodridge’s intangible contributions to this team: 

“She’s an incredible leader. She sets the tone. Not only offensively, but defensively too. She’s just one of those kids.”

Veterans travels to Peach next Monday, Aug. 26 before a Region series against Thomas County Central later in the week.