Runs were tough to come by in the Gilmer Lady Cats’ first full region softball series.
GHS fell to Ridgeland last Monday before the Cats faced the Heritage Generals Tuesday and Thursday. Gilmer was on the road for the first meeting, and the Cats’ errors spotted HHS three runs. The Generals added two more in a 5-0 win.
Heritage needed four innings in game two, and its late 12-run outburst was more than enough. GHS did not record a hit and lost, 16-0.
The Cats loaded the bases in the second inning of the first game, but were unable to push a run across. HHS started the fourth with a walk and triple for the game’s first runs. A sacrifice fly gave the Generals a 2-0 edge.
Heritage added two more runs in its next at-bat and neither were earned. The Cats committed a bases loaded error with one out for Heritage’s third run. An ensuing fly out made the score 4-0. HHS scored another unearned run in the sixth.
Heritage outhit the Cats 6-3, and GHS left three runners stranded in scoring position. Lily Fortune had two hits for the Cats and doubled in the fifth. Phoenix Addie had a hit as well.
Jaylee McDaniel pitched all six innings and she gave up six hits, two walks and struck out four.
HHS racked up 11 hits in game two and five Lady Cat errors accounted for 12 unearned runs. The Generals scored two runs in the first inning, and led 4-0 after the third. HHS led 16-0 following its 12-run fourth inning.
McDaniel got the start again and lasted 1 1/3 innings. She allowed three earned runs off six hits and two walks. Fortune tossed 2 2/3 innings and gave up an earned run off five hits and a walk while striking out three.
GHS was back on its home field Saturday for “Lady Cat Day.” Gilmer snapped its seven-game skid by defeating Paulding County in five innings, 5-0.
Fortune was in the circle for the entire game, and she held PCHS to two hits, struck out six and walked three.
The Cats scored their first runs of the week in the first inning. Mary Grace Jones tripled and raced home with two outs on a passed ball. In the next at-bat, Mia Henson came through with a two-out single to score both Gracie Gaitanoglou and Makalya Martin.
GHS was back at it in the third. Melissa Rasmussen’s base hit to center brought Fortune home, and the Cats led, 4-0. McDaniel reached on an error in the fifth and trotted home on Fortune’s single to center for the Cats’ final run.
Jones and Fortune had two hits apiece, while Henson, Rasmussen, Gaitanoglou, and McDaniel had one each.
Gilmer crushed Gordon Central 18-0 Monday evening, and a recap will appear in next week’s Times-Courier. GHS is 3-7 overall and traveled to Adairsville at press deadline. The Cats host the Tigers Thursday at 5:55 p.m.