Gilmer High softball had a good weekend on the diamond to earn three nonregion victories.
The Lady Cats made the nearly 170-mile trip to Harris County and took on King’s Ridge Christian last Friday. GHS did just enough offensively and defensively and with strong pitching performances, the Cats won, 2-0.
GHS was on the field for three games the following day, and the Cats’ offense was on display in the first two games. Gilmer took down St. Pius X (11-8), and Pace Academy (14-4). GHS wrapped up its day against Carrollton, and the Trojans claimed an 8-2 win.
“I was very pleased with our weekend,” said head coach Haley Vick. “We went to a strange place and played some teams we don’t ever see and faced some pretty good pitching. We were tested defensively as well and just played as a team and stayed focused. I was pleased with how we played overall chemistry wise. Getting out of Gilmer and getting out of our comfort zone, it was really good for the team to spend some time together and benefit from that time away.”
Lily Fortune was on the mound for six innings versus King’s Ridge and only gave up three hits while striking out seven and walking one. Braley Stewart struck out one when she came in to earn the save.
“Lily pitched a jam-up game and Braley came in for the save. She came in with the bases loaded and shut them down. That was definitely a highlight,” Vick said.
“We had two diving plays in the infield, one by Gracie Gaitanoglou and one by Sarah Dale. It’s just game changing when you make plays like that. We’ve talked about really committing and pursuing and not being afraid to make those type of plays because it shows you’re in it to win it.”
GHS had five hits on the day and Dale’s double started the game for the Cats. After advancing to third, she scored when Mary Grace Jones grounded out.
In the third, Makayla Martin and Dale got the inning going with consecutive hits. After two outs, Stewart reached on an error to score Martin for the game’s final run.
Fortune and Phoenix Addie each had a hit for Gilmer as well.
Stewart’s big day at the plate versus St. Pius included three doubles for five RBIs. Both Addie and Jaylee McDaniel added two hits and drove in a pair of runs as well. The trio was just what the Cats needed, especially when the Lions answered Gilmer’s runs.
After GHS took a 3-0 lead in the first, SPX scored two runs in its half and three more in the second inning. The teams each plated two runs in the third, and GHS trailed, 7-5.
However, the Cats erupted for five more runs in the fourth inning and added an insurance run in the sixth. SPX got a run back in its half, but Gilmer came away with a three-run win.
Fortune added a hit and RBI for GHS, while Dale knocked one run in and Jones had a hit.
“We went back and forth. We tied it up and they tied it up. We went down for an inning or two and then busted back out and took the lead again. It was good to see that kind of fight, and our offensive production was so encouraging,” Vick said.
GHS pitching: Dale 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 K. McDaniel 2/3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 K. Addie 1 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 K, 2 BB. Fortune 1/2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 K.
After recording 10 hits against St. Pius, GHS tallied 13 more versus Pace Academy. Seven of those hits were for extra bases, and Stewart was a double shy of hitting for the cycle. She had three RBIs in the win. Dale smacked two doubles and drove in two runs, and McDaniel added a pair of hits, which included a triple, and two RBIs. Addie was there for two hits as well and one RBI.
Gilmer wasted little time with its 10-run first. GHS began the inning with a Dale double before back-to-back triples by McDaniel and Stewart. Dale’s second double came later in the inning, and Pace committed two errors to prolong the run barrage.
Also recording a hit were Jones, Emma Cagle, Abby Murillo and Gaitanoglou. Murillo also added a RBI, as did Melissa Rasmussen.
GHS pitching: McDaniel 2 IP, 3 H, 1 K, 1 BB. Jones 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB. Stewart 2 IP, 1 H, 5 K.
Carrollton held GHS to four hits to end the day, and the Cats’ two runs were scored in the fifth inning. Brenlee Daniel drew a leadoff walk before back-to-back one-out singles by Dale and Martin. Martin’s hit plated the Cats’ first run and Gilmer’s second run scored when Fortune reached on an error.
Meanwhile, Carrollton strung together four hits in the second, which included a double for a 2-0 lead. CHS tacked on five more hits in the third, and the inning began with a home run sandwiched between doubles. The Trojans came out of the inning with an 8-0 advantage.
Vick hoped the weekend served the Cats well and gave them a glimpse into what they will encounter if they reach their goal of making a deep playoff run.
“I told them this was me manifesting that I want to get back down here,” she said. “This is where the Elite Eight is played, and I wanted them to be comfortable being down there and feel like it’s somewhere they’ve played before. We wanted to have some success so when they do get down there and there is more pressure, they can remember that success. I was a little nervous going into the trip, but it was everything I wanted it to be.
“My goal was to definitely be at least .500 at this point and then really be able to peak at the right time. I didn’t want us to play really good at the beginning and then die off. I wanted our momentum to keep building, so I’m really happy about where we are right now.”
GHS is 9-9 after falling to Heritage Monday, 11-3. Gilmer traveled to Northwest Whitfield at press deadline and hosts the Bruins Thursday at 5:30 p.m.