The Beggs Lady Demons produced a strong offensive effort Monday night, matching Preston hit for hit with 11 apiece, but a pair of key home runs helped lift the Preston Lady Pirates to a 7-4 victory in varsity softball action.

Preston struck first in the bottom of the opening inning, capitalizing on early momentum at the plate. K. Martin tripled down the rightfield line to drive in the game’s first run before O. Beaver followed with a groundout that brought home another, giving the Lady Pirates a quick 2-0 advantage.

Beggs answered in the top of the second inning, putting together a rally to even the score. The Lady Demons took advantage of timely hitting when Willow Herod delivered a single that helped bring a run home, while a Preston defensive error allowed another run to cross the plate, tying the game at 2-2.

The tie did not last long, however. In the bottom of the third inning, Martin stepped to the plate again and connected on a solo home run to right field, pushing Preston back in front at 3-2.

The Lady Pirates added to their lead in the fourth inning when Martin once again provided the decisive swing. This time, the Preston first baseman launched a three-run home run to center field, extending the Pirates’ lead to 6-2 and creating separation in the middle innings.

Despite the deficit, the Lady Demons continued to battle and kept pressure on Preston’s defense throughout the game. Beggs chipped away at the lead in the fifth inning when Emma Trimble delivered a hit that brought Abby Yandell across the plate. Later in the inning, Avery Been added another run-scoring hit that allowed Trimble to score, trimming the margin to 6-4 and keeping Beggs within striking distance.

Preston managed to add an insurance run in the fifth inning to extend its lead to 7-4, but the Lady Demons continued to compete through the final innings as both teams finished the contest with 11 hits.

Several Beggs players contributed to the team’s offensive production. Willow Herod, Emma Trimble and Abby Yandell each collected two hits to lead the Lady Demons at the plate. Avery Been, Herod and Trimble each drove in a run for Beggs, accounting for the team’s four runs on the night.

Extra-base hits also played a role in the Lady Demons’ offensive effort. Trimble and Tatum Mills each recorded doubles during the game, helping Beggs move runners into scoring position and keep pressure on the Preston pitching staff.

Ruby Tenison handled pitching duties for Beggs, working six innings in the circle. The right-hander allowed 11 hits and seven runs, three of them earned, while striking out one and walking three over 77 pitches.

Preston pitcher Kristin Holuby went the distance for the Lady Pirates, allowing 11 hits and four runs, three earned, across seven innings. Holuby struck out one and walked two while throwing 82 pitches in the complete- game effort. Defensively, both teams turned in solid performances in the field. The Lady Demons turned one double play during the contest, while Preston also recorded a double play to halt a potential Beggs rally. Martin proved to be the difference-maker for Preston, finishing the day 3-for-3 at the plate while driving in five runs. Alynn LeBlanc also contributed three hits for the Lady Pirates as Preston’s lineup produced timely offense in key moments.

Although the result did not fall in their favor, the Lady Demons showed resilience throughout the matchup. Beggs matched Preston’s hit total and consistently put runners on base, demonstrating the lineup’s ability to generate offense as the season progresses.

With contributions throughout the order and steady pitching in the circle, the Lady Demons will look to build on the positives from the game as they continue their schedule in the coming weeks.

— Lady Demons drop 5-2 loss

The Beggs Lady Demons produced a strong performance at the plate Tuesday, collecting 12 hits, but came up short on the scoreboard in a 5-2 loss to the Haskell Lady Haymakers. The Beggs Lady Demons took the field at the Muscogee Nation Complex on Tuesday for what was considered their first home game of the season, though it came far from their usual diamond. Recent tornado damage in Beggs left the school’s softball and baseball facilities heavily damaged, forcing the program to relocate games and practices. Despite the change in surroundings, the Lady Demons approached the game with the same determination, grateful for the opportunity to continue their season while their home fields begin the long process of Haskell started early in the top of the first inning, pushing across two runs, giving the Lady Haymakers a quick 2-0 advantage.

Beggs wasted little time putting pressure on the Haskell defense, striking early in the bottom of the first inning. Abigail Harmon reached base and later came around to score when Ruby Tenison delivered a hit to drive in the game’s first run for the Lady Demons. Tenison would later cross the plate herself when Willow Herod followed with a run-scoring single, to even the score at 2-2 and setting up a tightly contested matchup heading into the middle frames.

The game remained tied until the third inning when the Lady Haymakers managed to break through. A groundout by Izzie Young brought in the go-ahead run before Ava Draper followed with a home run to left field, extending Haskell’s lead to 5-2.

Despite the setback in the third, Beggs continued to battle throughout the remainder of the contest. The Lady Demons consistently put runners on base and applied pressure offensively, finishing the game with a dozen hits scattered across the lineup. However, Haskell’s defense proved steady, preventing any additional runs from crossing the plate.

Ruby Tenison led the effort both in the circle and at the plate for Beggs. The right-hander worked six innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs while striking out one and walking two on 64 pitches. Tenison also contributed offensively with multiple hits and one run batted in.

Several Lady Demons contributed to the team’s productive offensive night. Tenison, Harmon and Stella Howell each collected two hits, helping anchor Beggs’ 12-hit performance. Willow Herod and Tenison also recorded runs batted in for the Lady Demons, accounting for the team’s two runs.

Additional hits came from Abby Yandell, Emma Trimble, Avery Been, Kaylynn Hamilton and Brooklyn Hazelwood, as Beggs consistently found ways to reach base and challenge the Haskell pitching staff.

Haskell pitcher Piper Knight went the distance in the circle, surrendering 12 hits and two runs over seven innings while issuing one walk. The Lady Haymakers’ defense supported the effort by remaining error-free in the field and turning two double plays to halt potential Beggs rallies.

Offensively for Haskell, Draper provided the biggest swing of the game with her third-inning home run that helped create separation on the scoreboard. Knight also contributed at the plate, leading the Lady Haymakers with two hits.

Although the final score did not fall in their favor, the Lady Demons showed resilience throughout the contest. Beggs consistently generated offense, moved runners into scoring position and remained competitive against a Haskell team that capitalized on a key inning to secure the win.

Through three games this season, Beggs now stands at 0-3 overall. Despite the early record, the Lady Demons continue to show promise at the plate and determination on the field as they work to build momentum moving forward.

With a lineup capable of producing hits up and down the order and steady pitching performances in the circle, Beggs will look to turn those positives into results as the season progresses. Beggs will return to action on Monday, March 23rd, when they travel to Preston, where the Lady Demons will look to avenge their previous matchup.