STEUBENVILLE — The Catholic Central softball team is a work in progress.

Catholic Central took a step forward Wednesday in an extra-inning loss at Valley, however the Blue-and-Gold took a step back Thursday against Clay-Battelle.

The Cee-Bees tallied the first 15 runs of the game en route to defeating the Crusaders, 24-9, in five innings at the Steve Zamana Softball Field.

“We are a lot of work in progress,” Catholic Central (0-5) head coach Butch Brown said. “We are making a lot of mental mistakes. I told them at the beginning that you don’t want to fall behind because when you fall behind it is hard to get back in it.”

The visitors scored at least one run in all five innings, and the victors recorded four runs three times as well as scoring 11 runs in the top of the second to break the game wide open.

The visitors from Monongalia County tallied four runs in the first as the team was able to take advantage of three errors by the hosts. Catholic Central got a runner on base in the bottom half of the inning, but she ended up stranded. Then, Clay-Battelle collected 11 runs in the second to extend their advantage out to 15-0.

The Crusaders answered right back with two runs in the home half of the inning, however, the Cee-Bees pushed four more runs across in the third to increase their advantage to 19-2. Clay-Battelle tallied another run in the fourth to make the score 20-2 before Catholic Central delivered four runs in their half of the inning to make it a 20-6 ballgame.

Both teams scored multiple runs in the seventh. The Cee-Bees scored four times to make the score 24-6 before the Crusaders added three in the bottom half of the inning, but it was not enough to extend the game.

Abigail Price picked up the win inside the circle for Clay-Battelle. Price went the distance, striking out two and walking four.

Catholic Central used two pitchers in the game. Lexi Lathem started and took the loss. She did not record a strikeout while walking seven in two innings of work. Genna Free came on to start the third, and she pitched the final three innings. Free finished the game with one strikeout and five walks.

Clay-Battelle outhit the Crusaders, 12-8. 

Individually for the Cee-Bees, Emily Spears produced a single, a triple and two RBI, Charlee Gorbey contributed three singles and two RBI and Paige Harker, Shyanne Carpenter and Price all delivered a single and two RBI. Also, Savannah Doshen ended up with two singles, Alivia Price picked up a base hit and Peyton Whittaker and Zoe Johnson each chipped in with an RBI.

For the locals, Mia Doyle and Free each finished with two singles and an RBI, Miriam Free singled twice and Abbi Puorro produced a single and two RBI. Also, Maddie McEndree tallied a base hit, and Lynn Cai contributed an RBI.

“We have come 100 percent from where we were last year,” Brown said. “The girls we had return have improved tremendously. We are just a work in progress going forward.”

Catholic Central is scheduled to play East Liverpool at 5 p.m. Monday at home.

Clay-Battelle is slated to play Turkeyfoot Valley Area at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday on the road.

Clay-Battelle 24, Catholic Central 9

Clay-Battelle      4 (11) 4 14 – 24 12 5

Catholic Central 0  2   0 43 – 9 8 10

CLAY-BATTELLE (3-3): Ab. Price WP (2K, 4BB) and Stiles. Ponceroff S, 2RBI; Spears S, T, 2RBI; Ab. Price S, 2RBI; Harker S, 2RBI; Doshen 2S; Carpenter S, 2RBI; Whittaker RBI; Johnson RBI; Gorbey 3S, 2RBI; Al. Price S.

CATHOLIC CENTRAL (0-5): Lathem LP (2IP, 0K, 7BB), G. Free (3IP, 1K, 5BB) and M. Fink. Doyle 2S, RBI; G. Free 2S, RBI; M. Free 2S; McEndree S; Cai RBI; Puorro S, 2RBI.