Three straight one-run region softball games were played, and the Lady Cats claimed two victories.
Adding to the intrigue was the fact that each game needed a rally in the final inning to secure a win.
Gilmer High started the final week of the regular season last Monday at Northwest Whitfield. The Bruins and Cats needed extra innings after GHS tied the game in the seventh. Gilmer completed its comeback in the eighth for a 3-2 win.
The Cats erased Ridgeland’s three-run lead in the seventh at home the following day. The four-run inning ended the rainy game 5-4 in Gilmer’s favor.
Ridgeland did the same to the Cats when they were at home Thursday. The Panthers struck for five runs in the seventh to win, 9-8.
GHS outhit Northwest 7-4, and the Bruins took a 1-0 lead in the third thanks to a two-out triple that was followed by a base hit to center.
Makayla Martin did all of the Cats’ damage in the fifth. She tripled with an out and scored on a RHS throwing error. A solo homer pushed NHS back ahead by a run in the sixth, but Gilmer answered in the seventh to keep their hopes alive.
Phoenix Addie’s one-out double gave GHS a runner in scoring position, and she was replaced on the base paths by Macie Baxter. Gracie Gaitanoglou’s sacrifice bunt advanced her to third, and the game was tied 2-2 after Mia Henson singled to right.
GHS pitcher Braley Stewart struck out the side in the Bruins’ half of the inning. In the eighth, Sarah Dale led off the inning with a single before Mary Grace Jones was hit by a pitch. Lily Fortune’s line drive to center plated Dale for the lead.
Stewart induced three ground outs in the bottom of the inning. She pitched the final 2 1/3 innings and did not give up any hits or walks and struck out three. Fortune started the game and lasted 5 2/3 innings and surrendered two earned runs and struck out six.
Gilmer and Ridgeland endured a pair of weather delays and less than ideal playing conditions.
GHS entered its final at-bat losing, 4-1. The Cats’ odds got even worse with two outs and no runners on base. Both Dale and Fortune walked, and Jones’ single sandwiched in between loaded the bases.
Stewart’s base-clearing triple to right evened the score, and McDaniel’s hit to left ended the game.
The Cats’ first run came in the second inning when Addie singled home Stewart. RHS scored a pair of earned runs in the sixth and seventh innings ahead of the Cats’ rally.
Stewart tossed a complete game and gave up nine hits while striking out 12 and walking three. Addie had three hits on the day, and McDaniel joined Stewart with two apiece.
The Cats got going in a hurry against Ridgeland Thursday. Fortune tripled in the first to score Dale, who led off the game with a double. Jones scored on the play and also singled. Stewart’s base hit to right moved GHS ahead, 3-0.
The extra-base hits kept coming with RBI doubles by both Addie and Henson for a five-run advantage.
RHS responded with three runs in its half and two were due to errors. Stewart’s RBI triple in the second pushed Gilmer’s lead back to three runs.
The Panthers got another run back in the fourth, and the score remained 6-4 until the seventh inning.
GHS set the stage with Stewart’s leadoff single and McDaniel’s walk. Addie knocked in the Cats’ seventh run, and Brenlee Daniel’s two-out double made the score 8-4.
RHS saved its big hits for when it needed them most. A leadoff double was followed by a single. A dropped third strike loaded the bases, and a grand slam over the right-field fence tied the score. A solo shot to center completed the Panthers’ comeback win.
Both Stewart and Addie recorded three hits each while Dale, Jones and Daniel added two apiece.
GHS pitching: Fortune 6 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 7 K, 1 BB. Stewart 2 H, 2 ER.
Gilmer has a 16-14 overall record and is 9-9 in region play.