The Jefferson Davis Academy Lady Raiders finished runners-up in the SCISA 1A state softball tournament Saturday at the Oak Grove complex in Lexington.

Jefferson Davis Academy won three games to advance to the championship round. In the title game, the Lady Raiders fought hard, but ran out of steam falling to a talented Wardlaw Academy squad by a score of 16-0.

On a humid day where the temperatures reached in the lows 90s, Jefferson Davis Academy battled through a tough elimination game with Faith Christian Academy earlier in the day before taking the field 15 minutes later to face a well-rested Wardlaw Academy team.
Wardlaw Academy, which drew a bye, had a four-hour break before the championship game.
Jefferson Davis Academy concluded the tournament with a 3-2 record. Both of the Lady Raiders losses were against Wardlaw Academy.

JDA coach Tim Owens said the team laid it all on the line.

"I'm so proud of this team because we no one thought we could get to this point," Owens said.

"We had to get through some adversity to get to the finals, but we presevered as a team. We played hard all the way through the tournament. To beat Wardlaw Academy, we pretty much had to play a perfect game. Our girls gave it all they had, but playing out here all day long finally took a toll on our team."

Several players stood out for JDA during the tournament, including Dallas Hutto, Avery Owens, Katie Baltzegar, Roxanne Morgan, Khadejia Hallingquest and Katherine Williams.

However, one player served as an inspiration to the team. In a second round game against Faith Christian Academy of Charleston, JDA got a scare when sophomore pitcher Kasey Owens suffered a concussion after being hit in the head by a line drive ball. Owens had to be carried to the hospital where she had to stay overnight for observation.

Despite the injury, Owens was back in the lineup the next morning pitching.

"It was a little scary at first when I got hit, but luckily I was able to bounce back from it. The doctor at the hospital said it was a concussion and gave my parents permission for me to play again," Owens said. "I'm glad things worked out for the best because I definitely wanted to get back to playing."
"It was a big relief to see Kasey back from the hospital and to be all right. All of us was really worried about her. It didn't feel right playing without her especially after the way she was hurt," Hallingquest said.

The Lady Raiders started the the tournament Friday by blowing out Bowman Academy by a score of 14-0 in the first round.

The game was never in doubt as the Lady Raiders sizzled to a 5-0 lead in its first at-bat. JDA kept the pedal to the metal one inning later, rolling up five more runs for a 10-0 advantage.

The team was fueled by the hitting of Morgan and Hallingquest with three hits apiece. Morgan finished three-for-three with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored. Hallingquest went three-for-four with three RBIs and three runs scored.

Others shining at the plate included Avery Owens, Kasey Owens, Hutto, Williams and Peggy Collins with two hits each.

On the mound, Kasey Owens threw a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts for the win.
In round two of the tournament, the Lady Raiders needed extra innings to pull out an hardfought 11-6 win over Faith Christian Academy.

The Lady Raiders jetted to a 3-0 lead only to see Faith Christian Academy come back in the seventh inning to tie the score at 6-6.

After squandering an early lead, the Lady Raiders redeemed themselves in the extra session.
Highlighted by a Hallingquest two-run RBI triple, JDA scored five runs in eighth inning for the win.

Others scoring during the inning included Morgan, Baltzegar, Katherine Bell and Collins.

Avery Owens was the winning pitcher for JDA. Owens went six inning with four hits allowed and six strikeouts.

Top hitters for the game were Katherine Williams, Katelyn Bell, Hutto and Morgan each with two hits.
On Saturday in the semi-finals, the Lady Raiders played Faith Christian Academy in a rematch.

This time, however, it was no close call. Sparked by the hitting of siblings Kasey Owens and Avery Owens, the Lady Raider sran two-run lead then pour it on late for a 13-3 victory.

Kasey Owens went three-for-three with three RBIs and two runs scored. Owens drove in a run with a triple in the first inning and singles in third and fourth innings.

Avery Owens, who scored the first run of the game, finished with three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Seniors Katherine Williams, Peggy Collins and Roxanne Morgan also swung the bat well. Williams scored runs in the second and fourth innings. Williams finished with two hits and two RBIs. Collins scored runs in the second and third innings. Morgan had two hits and scored two runs.

Others scoring runs included Baltzegar, Hutto and Bell.

"We had a good run this year. We are only losing three seniors so we have got most of the team coming back," Owens said.

"It looks like Wardlaw Academy is going to be the team to beat again next season. We've played them four times this season so we know what we're up against. We're going to work hard again next season and hopefully we'll get another title shot."