The Gilmer High Lady Cats’ softball season has come to a close.
The region tournament got rolling last Saturday in Cumming, and GHS blasted the West Hall Spartans in the opening round, 11-3. However, White County turned the tables on the Cats in round two as the Warriors earned a lopsided 19-2 victory.
The Cats were back on the field Monday versus Lumpkin County and errors foiled Gilmer’s chances in a 6-1 loss.
Gilmer’s bats were white-hot versus West Hall as the Cats piled up 14 hits and built a nine-run lead after two at-bats.
Jacie Bennett drew a bases loaded walk for the Cats’ first run before a two-run double to left field by Zoey Woody. Alaina Miltiades grounded out for the fourth run, and Chesney Mathew’s two-out single moved the Cats ahead, 5-0.
Macy Hamby and Maddie Wright set the stage in the second with a triple and bunt. Phoenix Addie’s base hit to left plated two more runs. GHS extended its lead to 8-0 on Lily Fortune’s single to center. Miltiades’ ensuing sacrifice bunt gave her another RBI.
Addie’s next base hit in the third made the score 10-0, and Gracie Smith’s line drive to left tallied the 11th run.
Four singles, a fielder’s choice, walk and error led to a three-run fifth inning for WHHS. Because the Spartans were unable to cut the Cats’ lead to fewer than eight runs, the game was called.
GHS pitching: Fortune 4 IP, 4 K, 1 BB. Addie 4 H, 2 ER. Hamby 1 IP, 1 K, 1 BB.
The game versus White was called after the Cats’ third inning at-bat. The Warriors collected 15 hits on the day, and four GHS errors led to nine unearned runs. WCHS plated nine runs in the first inning and 10 in the second.
Gilmer held a momentary lead after its first at-bat. Following Hamby’s leadoff double, Wright tripled for a 1-0 edge. The Cats moved ahead 2-0 on Addie’s hit to center. Bennett and Woody each added a hit for Gilmer.
GHS pitching: Fortune 2 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 1 BB. Addie 5 H, 4 ER. Hamby 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB.
The Lady Cats entered the consolation bracket Monday evening versus Lumpkin County. GHS defensive miscues led to six unearned Indian runs, and the Cats’ season was ended, 6-1.
GHS had four hits on the day, which were collected by Hamby, Woody, Addie and Allen.
The Cats committed four errors in the game, and Lumpkin plated a run in the second and fifth innings and four more in the sixth.
GHS scored its run in the sixth inning. Hamby led off the frame with a single, and when Woody bunted, an Indian throwing error allowed her to score. Fortune pitched all six innings, struck out five and gave up nine hits.
The Lady Cats wrapped up the regular season at home last Tuesday versus Dawson County. The Tigers had three times as many hits as GHS and earned a 6-0 win.
One GHS error led to a pair of unearned DCHS runs. The Tigers tallied the game’s first run in the fourth inning, plated two in the fifth and three in the sixth.
Addie, Bennett and Woody each had a hit for Gilmer. Fortune started the game and went 5 2/3 innings. She struck out eight, walked four and allowed nine hits and four earned runs. Addie pitched the final 1/3 inning and did not allow any base runners.
Including the region tournament, Gilmer posed a 9-15 overall record on the season.