The varsity ladies softball team is finding out that this years’ district competition is even more stiff than last year. The district is probably from top to bottom the best district around, especially when you consider the vast improvement of Jasper, and the return of Bell to the upper part of the district standings.

Branford would meet both those teams this past week, and got a dose of reality in Jasper. The Lady Trojans have been the doormat for the softball district for a few years now, but surprised the Lady Bucs taking a five inning 17-7 win over Branford.

Coach LaDon Terry knew going into play this year that there would be no easy games, especially with a young team in a rebuilding process from Branford.

The ladies returned to action at the home field and met a formidable in the Lady Bulldogs from Bell, and fell 7-1. Despite the loss, the defense turned in a nice effort, but was only able to collect five hits for the game. Two of those hits were from Shauna Nettles, with one of those producing an RBI for Branford’s only run of the game. Following the Nettles hits, 12 straight Branford batters were retired, before a sixth inning hit Rachel Eilers ended the streak after Eilers hustled her way to first on a close play.

Despite the loss, starting pitcher Katee Knapp was able to strikeout six batters in a nice effort. There was also some nice defensive work by Branford with Crystal Bass and Knapp hooking up to pickoff a runner at third to end the second inning after Bell had scored three runs after being shut down in the first inning.

In the fourth inning, Kershta Mitchell made a nice grab of a line drive which she turned into a double play to end the inning. In the sixth inning, Bell was threatening to put the Bucs into a deep hole, but a nice throw home to Nettles resulted in a close play which went the Bucs way with the runner being called out.

Branford showed some offense early in the final inning with leadoff hits by Thomas and Nettles, but the Bell pitching did not permit the Bucs to cross home plate despite a stolen base from Nettles in the process.

Branford would score their only run in the second after Mitchell reached on a throwing error, and took advantage of a couple of passed balls to reach third before being brought home by the Nettles hit.

The only other hit of the night belonged to Knapp in the sixth which gave Branford a scoring opportunity with the bases loaded following the Eilers hit and Whitney Dubose getting hit by a pitch. A grounder to second was fielded cleanly for the final out to end the inning.

The Lady Bucs will try once again for that elusive first win of the season as they gear up for a tournament in Bell beginning tomorrow night in Bell. Tuesday night, Branford will stay on the road to meet a very tough Trenton team that is currently in a two way dog fight for second place in the district standings with Mayo and Bell, while Chiefland remains the only unbeaten team in the district.