The Pickens Dragonettes stood in their way, but only momentarily.
The Gilmer High Lady Cats met their archrival at home last Monday to begin the Region 6-4A softball tournament. The winner of the best-of-three series advanced to the state tournament, and the Cats defended their turf.
Gilmer notched victories of 4-2 and 16-7 over Pickens, and for the first time since 2015, GHS will play in the postseason.
Gilmer faced Northwest Whitfield three days later with the prospects of improving its state seeded, but the Bruins, ranked No. 3 in Class 4A, defeated GHS, 5-1.
“This was the first goal of the year, so we’re excited about that,” GHS coach Amanda Mullis said of the Cats’ state berth.
“They definitely deserve this because over the last few weeks they have played ball. We finally made plays we haven’t been able to make all year. We’re slowly getting back to hitting.”
In game one, the Cats scored two runs in the first inning, and Pickens plated one in the fourth and sixth innings to tie the game, 2-2.
Gilmer came through in the bottom half of the sixth for two runs. GHS pitcher Isabella Chastain closed out Pickens in the seventh to secure the win.
Chastain pitched all seven innings, struck out one, walked one and allowed eight hits.
Lady Cats Maddie Wright, Jasmine Staley, Sarah Stallings and Jacie Bennett all recorded one RBI. Macy Hamby and Staley both collected two hits.
Game two contained four lead changes and was not for the faint of heart. The teams combined for 23 runs and 26 hits.
Through two innings, GHS scored six runs. Pickens responded with two runs in the first and five more in the second. However, the Dragonettes were held in check for the remainder of the game.
Behind 7-6 in the third, GHS scored twice to pull ahead for good. The Cats added five insurance runs in the fifth, two more in the sixth and a final run in the seventh.
Hamby led the Cats with four hits and four RBIs. Taylor Elliott and Staley knocked in three runs apiece, and Marlee Chadwick, Makenzie Taylor and Wright all had one RBI.
Wright, Elliott, Taylor and Bennett each had two hits and Emily Dale, Chadwick and Chastain had one apiece.
Chastain got the win and pitched the final six innings after Hamby tossed the first. Chastain gave up two earned runs on seven hits and struck out one.
“Beating Pickens is always nice,” Mullis said. “We were kind of worried that second game because it was back and forth until we broke loose. Players who have been struggling picked it up and started hitting the ball and that helped a lot.”
Against Northwest, the Bruins tallied a run in the first and third innings and three in the fourth. Gilmer’s run came in the fifth when Chastain reached on an error.
NHS outhit GHS eight to four. Chastain pitched all six innings and struck out three, walked three and gave up four earned runs.
Gilmer began the state tournament at press deadline against Madison County, the No. 8 ranked team in Class 4A.
Playing a ranked opponent will be familiar for the Cats as region foes LaFayette, Heritage and Northwest have been in the top 10 for the majority of the season.
“I think our region schedule definitely helps because we’ve seen it all year,” Mullis said. “Madison is definitely quick on the bases so we’ll have to be a little tighter on the infield. They all can hit it to the outfield and play small ball and move on the bases.
“Hopefully, we have a good day of practice (Monday) because this isn’t going to be easy.”