Lady Cats win 7th straight
Gilmer High softball picked up two more region wins last week.
The Lady Cats downed the Dawson County Tigers 6-4 at home Tuesday. They improved their region record to 6-0 when they traveled to Lumpkin County two days later and handed the Indians a 5-2 defeat.
Gilmer played from behind for most of Tuesday’s home game. A two-run double in the second inning allowed Dawson to take an early lead.
GHS responded in the third when Sarah Stallings singled up the middle to score Jasmine Staley and Maddie Wright.
Dawson broke the 2-2 tie in the fourth with a lead off double followed by a GHS error. DCHS tacked on a fourth run in the fifth. With runners at the corners, Dawson attempted a double steal. While Wright threw out the runner at second, the Tigers scored from third to lead, 4-2.
With only six outs remaining, the Cats proved they only needed three when they rallied for a four-run sixth inning. Jacie Bennett walked before Isabella Chastain sent the ball to the base of the fence in right field for a double.
Makenzie Taylor singled home both to tie the game and advanced to second on the throw. Staley ripped a double down the left field line to move GHS ahead, 5-4. Macy Hamby flew out to add Gilmer’s sixth and final run.
Chastain and the defense took care of Dawson in the seventh to secure their victory.
Staley had three hits on the day and Taylor collected two. Taylor Elliott did not get a hit but was plunked by pitches three times.
Chastain tossed another complete game. She struck out seven and allowed seven hits and three earned runs.
GHS and Lumpkin have met twice and both games ended with the Cats winning 5-2. This time around, Gilmer did all of its damage in the first two innings.
Staley set the stage with a lead off single. Wright’s ensuing bunt resulted in a throwing error as GHS took a 1-0 lead and Wright raced all the way to third base. She then scored on passed ball.
Elliott’s base hit was followed by an out and back-to-back errors and GHS increased its lead to 3-0.
In the second, Hamby doubled with two outs and scored when Elliott singled. Bennett brought home the Cat’s final run with a double to left.
Over its next five at-bats, Lumpkin only advanced one runner into scoring position.
Things got dicey in the bottom of the seventh as the Indians loaded the bases with a hit and two walks. GHS got two outs before a double plated two runs.
A fly out to second base ended the game in the Cats’ favor.
Chastain went the distance and struck out nine. She gave up four walks, four hits and two earned runs.
Wright and Elliott had two hits apiece.
GHS is 8-1 overall and hosted White County at press deadline.
The Cats will host Cherokee Bluff Wednesday and North Hall Thursday. Both games will begin at 6 p.m.