Episcopal– A showdown of rivals who were undefeated in district play occurred Thursday night when Trinity Christian Academy visited the Episcopal School of Jacksonville in a battle for sole possession of first place in Class 4A, District 2. Episcopal put a crooked number on the board early, and pitcher Maddi Latta – a top-notch hurler in the Jacksonville area – held the Conquerors to two runs as the Eagles won 6-2.
Latta (W: 7-3, 1.53 ERA) allowed only two earned runs on nine scattered hits while walking one and striking out seven. She got out of jam in the first after Trinity got two-out hits from Mackenzie Marrell and Amaya Ross. She also shook off lead-off hits from Ross that turned into runs on RBI singles from pitching counterpart Bailey Cooley (2-3, 2 RBI) but did not allow Trinity anything more.
Latta also swung a hot bat, going 3 for 4 with a double and 3 RBI as she drove in a run with each hit. Shortstop and lead-off hitter Kami Eppley also had three hits and scored three times for the Eagles. Eppley led off three innings with hits and turned two of those into runs. She also scored in the sixth after reaching on a fielder’s choice. Episcopal got the lead-off hitter on base in all six team at bats.
Episcopal scored one in the bottom of the first and three more in the second. In that second inning, Eppley drove in Jaclyn Conner (who singled), and Latta and Grace Jones each followed with RBI singles. Jones also drove in the Eagles’ first run an inning earlier.
Trinity got single runs in the fourth and sixth thanks to the Ross-Cooley combination, but Latta’s two run-scoring hits in the fourth and sixth gave those runs right back to the Eagles. Trinity’s Amaya Ross was 3 for 3 while Alexis Ross walked, singled, and stole three bases and Breezy Burnette had a single, a double, and a stolen base.
Cooley (L: 8-5, 2.84) allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits while walking one and striking out four in 3 1/3 innings.
Episcopal (7-3, 3-0 in district) claims first place over Trinity (11-5, 2-1) as the season heads into its final three weeks. Episcopal will next play a district game at Providence at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 11. The Conquerors have some time off before their next game at non-district Creekside at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16.
This year’s Class 4A, District 2 tournament is at Trinity Christian Academy from April 29-May 2.
