The Gilmer Lady Cats opened their region softball schedule and enjoyed a 16-run outburst in their victory.
GHS and the Heritage Generals dealt with some unruly weather last Tuesday that postponed the game briefly before a steady rain fell over the final two innings. However, nothing could slow the Cats as they exploded for seven runs in the second inning and nine more in the fourth for a 16-4 annihilation.
GHS was in Heritage two days later, and the Generals got their revenge. Both teams hit the ball well, but it was Heritage’s five-run third that made the difference in its 8-3 victory.
Gilmer began the week last Monday against Ridgeland. The visiting Panthers’ late rally allowed them to pull ahead for a 6-2 victory.
“Before the game I told them, ‘We belong here,’” head coach Haley Vick said after last Tuesday’s victory. “We were leading the region in some categories, and I don’t think anybody knew that.
“We should have beaten Ridgeland and kind of gave that game away with five errors. We got out here early today, took some extra balls. They warmed up by themselves and were extra motivated and came out swinging.”
Versus Heritage in their first meeting, the Cats threatened in the first but unleashed their first run barrage in the second. GHS notched three hits and took advantage of five walks to tack seven runs on the scoreboard.
In the fourth, the Cats added nine more runs and they all came with two outs. Twelve batters strolled to the plate in the inning, and the game was called once GHS extended its lead to 12.
HHS walked in two runs, and Jaylee McDaniel tripled and singled in the fourth. Braley Stewart added a double, while Lily Fortune, Mary Grace Jones and Brenlee Daniel all singled.
“That was that ‘never say die’ principle and just competing at the plate and earning every pitch and knowing how to find a way,” Vick said of the Cats’ two-out rally in the fourth. “Everybody in the dugout was up, our energy was up. When we’re 16 strong, we’re a really strong team.”
Heritage scored all of its runs in the third and two were unearned. Stewart pitched four innings and struck out five and gave up five hits.
Fortune had three hits and drove in two runs, and Stewart collected three RBIs on two hits. McDaniel had a two hit, two RBI day, Jones drove in two runs and both Daniel and Gracie Gaitanoglou had one RBI. Makayla Martin and Phoenix Addie each recorded a hit as well.
Jones and Stewart both had a pair of hits and drove in a run in the rematch against Heritage. Addie smacked two hits as well, and Kali McCardle had one RBI on the day.
Stewart tripled home Gilmer’s run in the first, and HHS evened the score in its half. In the third, HHS racked up five hits for five runs and added two more in the fourth to lead, 7-1. Gilmer tacked on its final two runs in the fifth.
GHS pitching: Fortune 2 1/3 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 1 K, 1 BB. Stewart 3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 1 BB.
Against Ridgeland, the Cats committed five errors, which led to four unearned runs. RHS was up 2-0 when the Cats struck for a run in the fourth when McDaniel singled to score Stewart.
Ridgeland took the lead for good in the fifth, 3-1, and three more runs crossed home plate in the sixth.
Martin drove in the Cats’ second run in the seventh.
GHS pitching: Fortune 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 7 K, 0 BB. Stewart 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 0 BB.
GHS is 5-4 overall and 1-2 in region play.
Gilmer faced Coahulla Creek Monday evening and won, 7-0. They hosted Adairsville at press deadline and will travel to take on the Tigers Thursday. GHS will be in Lumpkin County Saturday to play the Indians.