PCMS softball team dominates opponents in 15-0 season

The Pike County Middle School Lady Pirates softball team finished the regular season and playoffs with a perfect 16-0 undefeated record, outscoring opponents 154 runs while only allowing four earned runs in the entire season.

The 2023 PCMS softball team includes Ella Alpough, Raegan Burch, Layla Dilbeck, Harley Garland, Isabella Geis, Marley Headley, Savannah House, Madison Massengale, Kaylee Martinez, Kynlee Pike, Braelyn Shoemake, Paisleigh Sorrow, Kaylee Weaver, Brianna Burke, Kennedy Cato, Lexi Phillips, Savanna Sowell, Taylor Woodward, Collins Burch and Jayda Goens.

“The Pirates began this season knowing they had something to prove. After coming up short in the post-season last year, PCMS Softball committed to the goal of 1%: to become 1% better as a player, as a teammate and as a team every day. These student-athletes put in time in the weight room, over the summer and every day at practice. Everyone sees the outcome, the wins/losses, but not everyone sees the hard work and dedication these players put in,” said head coach Ali Burch.

“As a team, the Pirates batted .513 on the season producing 154 RBIs. Defensively, the Pirates maintained a fielding percentage of .963 allowing 4 earned runs in 16 games.”

The team advanced to the MGMSAL Region Championship after their 12-1 playoff victory Oct. 3 over the Lamar County Trojans. Savanna Sowell hit an inside-the-park homerun in the first inning of the playoff game, scoring two runs. The team added to their early lead in the third as Bella Geis and Harley Garland both hit singles and Taylor Woodward scored after tagging up. Kaylee Weaver led the team offensively as she went 2-for-3 from the leadoff position. Layla Dilbeck earned the win for the team as she allowed zero runs and struck out four, allowing three hits and walking none.

They hosted Gray Station for the championship game Oct. 5 and continued to dominate. They got on the scoreboard in the first as Marley Headley singled and Savanna Sowell doubled, each scoring one run. They extended their lead in the third with RBI doubles by Kaylee Martinez, Ella Alpough and Raegan Burch. Ella Alpough earned the win as she pitched five innings, striking out four, walking none and allowing zero runs and three hits. Savanna Sowell gunned down a runner attempting to get back to first from the catcher position. Offensively, the team got 13 hits with Kaylee Martinez, Kaylee Weaver and Marley Headley each collecting two hits each.

“The rising class of 2028 is a special group to me. We started middle school together. Their first year as middle school students was my first year teaching and coaching at PCMS,” said coach Burch. “As a class, the eighth grade Pirates have one loss in three seasons ending their middle school career with an impressive 39-1.”