The Gilmer Lady Cats continued their nonregion softball slate with three more games.
GHS was back on the road at Cass last Wednesday, and the Colonels were able to spark a late-inning rally for a 4-3 win.
The Lady Cats attended their second weekend tournament in a row Saturday. They were set to play Murray County Friday, but rain postponed the game until Saturday morning where the Indians came away with a 6-2 victory.
Gilmer ended its day against Ridgeland, a former region opponent. The teams combined for only five hits and none of the Panthers’ runs were earned as they secured a 3-2 win over the Cats.
“Overall, I think we’re doing some good things and building on some skills,” said head coach Haley Vick. “We’re constantly making adjustments with the lineup or defensively, and I’m encouraged by that. I think if we can shore up our defense a little bit, that’s what’s going to push us into the win column.
“Even our upperclassmen have played behind some powerhouse kids, so there is just some stuff that needs to be ironed out. I told the players that these nonreginon games are for us to figure these things out. Ultimately, the way to state is through the region.”
GHS had a solid day at the plate versus Cass. The Cats outhit the Colonels 8-6, but left three runners stranded in scoring position. The Cats wasted little time and plated a run in the first inning when Jaylee McDaniel tripled to score A.J. Allen.
Phoenix Addie set the stage for GHS with a leadoff single in the fourth. She advanced to third on a pair of groundouts, and trotted home on Gracie Gaitanaglou’s base hit to center field.
McDaniel was back at it in the sixth with another triple to start the inning. An ensuing single by Addie moved the Cats ahead, 3-0.
Cass did all of its damage in its final two at-bats. The Colonels tallied three hits in the sixth to cut the Cats’ lead to a run. In the seventh, a one-out error gave Cass some hope, and a double evened the score at 3-3. A flyout allowed the base runner to advance to third, and she scored on an errant GHS throw.
In addition to the aforementioned players, Sarah Dale and Makayla Martin each had a hit for GHS. Lily Fortune started the game and went six innings. She struck out nine, walked two and allowed two earned runs off five hits. Addie pitched the final 2/3 inning and struck out one and allowed one hit.
Tournament games had a time limit, and Murray scored a run in each of its four at-bats. The Indians plated two runs in the first and fourth innings and one in the second and third.
GHS was able to score a run in the first once again. Both McDaniel and Addie singled in the inning, and the former scored on Zoey Woody’s double to left.
Gilmer’s final run came in the top of the fifth. This time it was Mia Henson who tripled to start an inning. She scored when Dale grounded out for the Cats’ final run.
Gracie Smith also had a hit on the day to bring Gilmer’s tally to five. Addie pitched four innings, and four of the Indians six runs were earned off six hits. She struck out five and walked three.
Ridgeland drew a pair of walks to start the second game of the day. Both scored when a fly ball dropped in the infield.
GHS evened the score in the top of the third inning. Smith singled to center, and an ensuing throwing error on Martin’s bunt allowed her to score. McDaniel was hit by a pitch with two outs before Addie drew a walk. Martin then raced home on a passed ball to knot the score at 2-2.
A two-base error to start Ridgeland’s half of the inning put a Panther in scoring position. A stolen base and groundout moved RHS ahead for good.
In the fifth, GHS had a chance when McDaniel was hit by another pitch and Addie was intentionally walked with two outs. The Panthers got out of the jam with a strikeout to escape with a one-run win.
Sierra Williams accounted for Gilmer’s remaining hit in the game. McDaniel pitched four innings, gave up three hits and struck out three and walked three.
Gilmer’s final game of the tournament versus Trion was rained out. GHS is 0-6 on the season and hosted Lumpkin County at press deadline.
GHS hosts White County Thursday at 6 p.m. Coahulla Creek and Union County will be in town Saturday for respective games at noon and 4 p.m.