The Gilmer High School Lady Cats snagged three wins in their opening week of nonregion softball action.
GHS made the trip to the Dalton Invitational last Friday and Saturday. The Lady Cats kick-started the event first against the host Catamounts. Gilmer erupted for a seven-run third inning for a decisive lead en route to a 9-3 victory.
The Cats played two games Saturday and their morning got underway versus the Ridgeland Panthers. Despite a shaky game defensively, RHS jumped ahead early and held on for a 6-3 win.
Gilmer closed out the event in the afternoon and was saddled with its second loss to the Rockmart Yellow Jackets, who tallied four unearned runs in the game. The Cats found themselves down early once again, and the Jackets came out on top, 5-1.
Because of the number of teams in attendance, each game was limited to 90 minutes as long as five innings had been played.
GHS notched a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning versus Dalton. A double steal with Lily Fortune on third and Macy Hamby at first gave GHS a quick lead. The Cats went up 2-0 on Jacie Bennett’s ensuing single.
Some patience at the plate and extra base hits saw Gilmer open a 9-run lead after its third at-bat. Hamby and Bennett both drew walks, and Sierra Williams reached on an error. A single by Chensey Mathews added the Cats’ third run before consecutive walks by Gracie Smith and A.J. Allen moved GHS ahead, 5-0.
Dalton made a pitching change and the new hurler was greeted by Fortune, who smacked a double to left for two more runs. Hamby did the same for a comfortable 9-0 Lady Cat lead.
Dalton collected three of its four hits on the day in the fifth inning. A GHS error prolonged the frame, and the Catamounts scored three unearned runs. The game was called after Dalton’s final at-bat in the fifth.
Fortune got the win and pitched 3 2/3 innings and gave up four hits while striking out one and walking one. Hamby pitched 1 1/3 innings and struck out three.
A double, three singles and a sacrifice fly allowed Ridgeland to surge ahead 4-0 after an inning Saturday. Gilmer responded with a three-run third inning.
After an out, GHS strung together four straight base hits by Fortune, Maddie Wright, Hamby and Phoenix Addie. Hamby and Addie both had an RBI, and a Panther error after the hit allowed GHS to draw within a run.
A pair of RHS singles in the fourth accompanied by a Gilmer error gave the Panthers a 5-3 edge. A wild pitch accounted for Ridgeland’s final run, and the Cats were unable to cut into the deficit over their final two at-bats.
Bennett and Zoey Woody both added a hit apiece for GHS. Addie pitched three innings and allowed five hits, four earned runs and struck out three and walked three. Hamby took over for the fourth and fifth innings and surrendered two hits while fanning two and walking one Panther.
Two GHS errors to start the final game of the tournament were followed by two Rockmart doubles for a 3-0 Yellow Jacket lead after an inning. The Jackets moved ahead 4-0 thanks to a two-out Lady Cat error in the second inning.
The Cats’ only run came in the top of the fifth. Allen reached on base hit to right, and she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Fortune. Allen moved third on a groundout and raced home on a Rockmart wild pitch.
The Jackets added their last run in their half of the inning. Bennett collected Gilmer’s sixth hit and her second of the day in the Cats’ final at-bat. Wright also had two hits in the game.
Fortune pitched all five innings and struck out five, walked one and gave up four hits and one earned run.
The Lady Cats have a 3-3 overall record and began region play at Lumpkin County at press deadline. GHS will travel to White County Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. game.