BILOXI-- Pass Christian's Brooke Roach drove in three runs and Picayune's Elizabeth Taggard added a two-run double as the West won a high-scoring 10-3 decision over the East on Wednesday in the opener of the Gulf Coast Futures Softball Games doubleheader at Biloxi High School.
Then the West turned to dramatics in the second game, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning for a 6-5 victory and a doubleheader sweep.
Roach won West MVP honors, going 3-for- 4 in the doubleheader with three RBIs, two walks and two runs scored.
George County's Megan Morse earned East MVP honors, going 3-for- 4 in the twinbill with two RBIs while scoring one run.
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"I was used to seeing the pitching and I can adjust real well,'' Roach said. "I guess because I'm a catcher I'm able to adjust and I was able to see the ball out of their hand. Our coach told us we would all be hitting the ball in the first game. I really don't have an off season. I go from school ball (at Pass Christian) to travel ball (Biloxi Overdrive) to all-stars. It's just fun to be here.''
The West scored four runs in the third inning, four runs in the fifth and two runs in the sixth inning to support the pitching of the trio of Harrison Central's Kristen Cade, St.Patrick's Anna D'Aquilla and Pearl River Central's Taylor Harris in the opener. Long Beach's Kaitlyn McGoey had two hits in Game 1 as did Roach.
"They played great, I was proud of them,'' said West coach Bruce Blaker, who also coaches Our Lady Academy. "It was a total team effort tonight.''
The East countered with one run in the fourth on the sacrifice fly of East Central's Madison Wall and two in the sixth on RBI singles by Morse and Kaitlyn Passeau - both of whom are from George County.
The West jumped to a 4-0 lead in the nightcap, keyed by RBI singles from St. Patrick's Raven Blackwell and Gulfport's Jayden Bishop.
The East struck out 11 times to the West pitching staff before rallying for four runs in the top of the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. The uprising was keyed by three walks, a sacrifice fly by Vancleave's Gracie Barnett and a RBI single by George County's Neely McLeod.
But the West answered in its final at bat. D'Aquilla led off with a single. Bishop rapped a one-out RBI single to tie the game. Then Picayune's Megan Dudenhefer ripped a RBI single to center for the game-winner.
The Gulf Coast Fast Pitch Senior All-Star Games will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at Biloxi High School, with the doubleheader beginning at 6 p.m.
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