The Gilmer Lady Cats earned a commanding senior night softball victory.
GHS hosted West Hall last Thursday and the Cats’ offense and defense allowed them to build a lead throughout. Behind a dominant 11-strikeout performance from sophomore pitcher Lily Fortune, Gilmer sent the Spartans home with a 7-0 defeat.
The Cats started the week with region matchups against Wesleyan and Dawson County and lost both games, 6-0.
Patience paid off in the first inning versus West Hall. Sarah Dale and Jaylee McDaniel drew walks to lead off the inning, and the Cats took a 1-0 lead on Phoenix Addie’s base hit to right.
Senior A.J. Allen’s single to center gave GHS a base runner in the second inning. A two-out infield hit by Dale positioned Cats at the corners. McDaniel then sent a high fly ball to right field, and while the a Spartan was in position to make the catch, the ball glanced off her glove. She stood on third as GHS added
Zoey Woody’s infield chopper scored McDaniel as the Cats’ lead stood at 4-0.
Allen was there once again to lead off fourth with a single before stealing second. She scored when Fortune doubled to left.
Three Spartan errors added Gilmer’s sixth run in the fifth inning. In the sixth, McDaniel singled to right and stole second. She crossed home plate for the Cats’ seventh run when on Addie’s infield hit.
Fortune limited WHHS to four hits and she walked four. Senior KateLynn Carder also had a hit for GHS on the evening.
At home versus Wesleyan last Monday, Gilmer’s lone hit came off the bat of Woody. Wesleyan had nine hits and scored four runs in the first inning. The Wolves also plated a run in the second and fourth innings.
Five of the Wolves’ runs were earned, and Fortune struck out six and walked one.
GHS hosted Dawson two days later, and four Lady Cat errors led to four unearned Tiger runs. DCHS out hit the Cats 9-3, and Woody, McDaniel and Allen each had a hit for GHS.
DCHS led 2-0 through four innings ahead of its three-run fifth. The Tigers added a final run in the sixth.
Fortune pitched the entire game. She struck out six and walked three.
A recap of Gilmer’s Monday night game at Pickens will appear in next week’s Times-Courier. GHS traveled to Wesleyan at press deadline.