FLEMING ISLAND – They tried moving the game up nearly three hours earlier, but it didn’t matter, as for some reason Mother Nature didn’t want Atlantic Coast and Fleming Island to play their game.
For the second time this season the two tried to finish their highly important District 2-8A softball game, but for the second time a weather delay has postponed it again.
At least this time they were able to play part of their game as Fleming Island leads Atlantic Coast 3-2 in the top of the fourth inning.
The highly anticipated game has district implications on the line for not only both Atlantic Coast (9-6, 4-0) and Fleming Island (7-4, 3-1) but Oakleaf (16-1, 4-1) as well.
A Fleming Island win would create a three-way tie in the district between the three teams, forcing tiebreakers or a coin flip to decide the top seed in the upcoming District 2-8A tournament.
An Atlantic Coast win would clinch the top overall seed as the only undefeated team in the district, while putting Oakleaf as the No. 2 seed and Fleming Island the No. 3 seed.
The Stingrays came ready to play immediately putting pressure on the Eagles in all three innings.
Kennedy Searcy led off the game with a bunt single but was thrown out trying to steal second by the throw of catcher Anna Hull and the tag of shortstop Jadyn Chesser.
Sophomore pitcher Morgan Kendrick got a grounder and a strikeout to end the inning unscathed.
Likewise, Stingray pitcher Sophia Abrams retired the side in order in the first with two grounders and a strikeout.
Shurrell Jefferson laid down a perfect bunt to reach first safely to lead off the second inning for the Stingrays. After a caught line drive by third baseman Makenzi Dziekan, Emma Foster followed with a one out single to right to put runners on first and second.
The Stingrays attempted a double steal and Hull threw to third but Dziekan wasn’t there as the ball rolled down the third base line and then past left fielder Chesney Miles allowing both Jefferson and Foster to score to give the Stingrays a 2-0 lead.
They continued the pressure as Amalia Ortero Feige walked, Abrams singled to right and Searcy singled to left to load the bases with two outs.
However, Kendrick got out of the jam after getting behind in the count 3-1 to get a huge strikeout to end the inning.
Hull led off the bottom of the second with a double to left center, Chesser followed with a single to right and MacKenzie Bullock 2 RBI double short of the wall scored both Hull and Chesser tying the game at 2-2 still with no outs.
Ansley Hamilton sac fly to center field scored Bullock to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
Abrams retired the side to get out of the second with no more damage to keep her team in it.
As the third inning began, Jefferson reached safely with a one out bunt and Alexis Bailey and Foster both walked to load the bases again.
Yet Kendick settled down and got a pop up to Hull and a strikeout to end the threat giving up no runs.
The Eagles were feeling confident every inning and nearly added to their lead as Miles led off with a single to left. However, catcher Erin Moon gunned Miles out at second and Abrams retired two of the next three batters to keep the Eagles off the bases.
As the game headed to the top of the fourth, the sky fell apart and it began to rain and eventually lightning causing umpires to suspend the game.
As of press time, both coaches were working on picking up the game again from the fourth inning on Thursday.
However, Atlantic Coast head coach Kevin Grupp said his team was scheduled to play at Orange Park Thursday and he would have to contact them and cancel their game first before they could reschedule the game with Fleming Island.
