The Gilmer Lady Cats were on the road to begin the softball state tournament, and a familiar foe ended their season.
GHS entered the Class 3A tournament seeded No. 20 and faced No. 13 Heritage last Wednesday. The best-of-three series saw Heritage explode for seven runs in the third inning of game one. It put the Cats in an eight-run hole, which they were unable to overcome in a five-inning loss, 11-1.
Gilmer held a lead for two innings in game two before HHS got some offense going in the third. With a one-run lead, the Generals plated runs in their final three at-bats while the Cats were held in check. Heritage doubled the Cats’ hits as its 9-2 triumph brought Gilmer’s season to a close.
The Cats and Generals are also Region 7-3A opponents. Heritage won two-of-three meetings during the regular season and all were lopsided. Gilmer came out on top in their first game 16-4 before HHS took the final two during the regular season 8-2 and 11-3.
GHS claimed early leads in both state tournament games. In the top of the first, Braley Stewart’s line drive to right scored Sarah Dale, whose single began the game. However, that would be Gilmer’s only run. GHS ended the first with the bases loaded and five runners stranded in scoring position for the game.
A GHS error helped Heritage get its half of the inning going. A bunt and two-run single put the Cats down by a run.
HHS struck for seven hits in the third, which included a triple. One Gilmer error led to an unearned run, and the Generals emerged from the inning ahead, 9-1.
Two more triples in the fourth aided Heritage as its lead swelled to 10 runs. The game was called when GHS was unable to cut Heritage’s lead to fewer than eight runs in the top of the fifth.
Aside from the aforementioned players, Lily Fortune, Phoenix Addie and Jaylee McDaniel also had a hit for the Cats.
GHS pitching: Stewart 2 IP, 6 ER, 1 BB. Fortune 2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 K.
Gilmer cut its defensive errors down from four to one in game two, and the Cats were the home team on the scoreboard.
Dale got GHS going once again with a lead off hit, and Stewart was there for a RBI triple. McDaniel then came through with a two-out double for a 2-0 lead.
HHS pushed its initial runs across home plate in the third. A single and home run evened the score, and a walk and double moved HHS ahead, 3-2. The Generals added another run in the fifth, three in the sixth and two in the seventh.
The Cats were retired in order in their half of the inning, and the Generals prolonged their season.
Dale and McDaniel both finished with two hits on the day while Stewart and Makayla Martin added one apiece.
Dale pitched all seven innings and allowed seven earned runs off 13 hits while walking four and striking out two.
The Cats’ trip to the postseason was their first since 2020. Including the state tournament, the Cats posted a 16-16 record after going 5-24 last season.