The Gilmer High Lady Cats were on the softball diamond for games before their first day of class.
GHS made its way to Dalton last Thursday, and the host Catamounts found themselves on the wrong end of a 6-2 extra-inning loss. Gilmer was on the road again two days later, and this time they faced the Murray County Indians. The Cats’ bats were held in check, and Murray took advantage of GHS errors for an 8-0 win.
Gilmer needed nine innings to defeat Dalton, and patience at the plate allowed GHS to plate two runs in the second. Gracie Morrow and Emma Cagle drew one-out walks, and the Cats loaded the bases on Mary Grace Jones’ infield hit.
Mia Henson walked as well for Gilmer’s first run, and GHS led 2-0 when Sarah Dale grounded out to short.
Dalton got on the board in the third thanks to a Lady Cat error. In the fourth, the Catamounts’ a two-out double with a runner on third evened the score.
Neither team scored over the next three innings, nor did any runs cross home plate in the eighth. In the ninth, a DHS error gave Gilmer a base runner with one out. Makayla Martin’s single was followed by Jaylee McDaniel’s base hit to right, and GHS led, 3-2.
The Cats extended their lead to two when Martin raced home on a passed ball. Lily Fortune’s two-run homer gave Gilmer a comfortable 6-2 edge. Fortune then retired the Catamounts in their half of the inning for the opening-day win.
Gilmer outhit DHS 7-4, and McDaniel collected two hits on the day.
GHS pitching: Dale 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K, 1 BB. Phoenix Addie 2 IP, 2 K, 1 BB. McDaniel 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 K. Fortune (W) 5 IP, 1 H, 8 K, 4 BB.
Four GHS errors led to five unearned runs Saturday versus Murray. The Indians scored two runs in the first and second innings and led 7-0 after the fourth. MCHS added an eighth run in the fifth to secure its run-rule victory.
McDaniel accounted for both of the Cats’ hits.
GHS pitching: McDaniel 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 K, 1 BB. Addie 2 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 2 BB. Dale 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 2 K, 1 BB.
Gilmer hosted Fannin County Monday, and some defensive miscues cost the Cats in a 5-3 loss.
Pitching took center stage through 3 1/2 innings. McDaniel led off the fourth with an infield hit before swiping second. She scored when Fortune doubled to center.
FCHS evened the score in the fifth. An infield hit set the stage for the Rebels as well, and when an ensuing bunt rolled through the Cats’ defense and into the left field grass, the scoreboard read 1-1.
Bunts continued to be fruitful for Fannin in its next at-bat. A leadoff double and error started the inning. Another bunt added the Rebels’ second run when GHS was unable to get the out at home. After a fly out to right, the third bunt of the inning followed. The Cats attempted to get the out at third, but the throw was late as another run crossed home plate. A ground out scored the Rebels’ fourth run.
Fortune’s two-out double in the sixth kept the inning alive. She scored when Addie slashed a single to right.
Fannin plated their final run in the seventh, and it was unearned. The Cats scored again with two outs in the seventh. Emma Cagle doubled and scored on Dale’s base hit to right for the Cats’ final run.
GHS pitching: Fortune 5 IP, 1 ER, 9 K. Dale 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 K.
Gilmer faced Dawson County at press deadline and hosts Murray County Wednesday at 6 p.m.