Before the first pitch of Benton Academy’s softball season on Monday night, a number of players and the Whitehead family shared an intimate moment on the mound.
On November 11, 2015, Lezlie Whitehead, a member of the Lady Raiders’ softball team, lost her life in a car accident.
Monday’s season-opener marked the first game that the Lady Raiders would play without Whitehead, so they decided to dedicate the season to the memory of their friend and teammate.
Unfortunately for the Lady Raiders, the season did not start in an ideal manner.
They dropped their season-opener, a non-conference match-up against Carroll Academy, by a score of 17-1.
After earning the first out of the contest quickly, the Lady Raiders began to struggle and gave up three runs in the top of the first inning.
It was a deficit that they would never be able to overcome.
The Lady Raiders scored their only run of the contest when Sara Elizabeth Hardy got on-base by being hit by a pitch. She later was driven home by a teammate.
The Lady Raiders faced Central Holmes on Tuesday night, but it was not upon completion by press time.
Next up for Benton is a home conference game against Greenville Christian on Monday night.
The first pitch of the contest is set for 6 p.m.
