The Gilmer High Lady Cats’ return to the Class 4A state softball tournament pitted them against the No. 8 ranked Madison County Red Raiders.
GHS made the 100-plus mile trek last Tuesday for a doubleheader to begin the best-of-three series.
Following a 90-minute delay because of area storms, Madison hit the ball well in the opening game and came away with a 9-1 victory.
Needing a win to force a third game the following day, Gilmer matched Madison hit for hit in game two. But, the Cats left five runners stranded in scoring position while MCHS got the hits needed for a 7-3 win to take the series.
“They hit the ball really well, but we had some crucial errors that really set the tone for our girls,” GHS coach Amanda Mullis said. “That big break we had before the game was not good for us. We were ready, but I think that brought us down a few notches after that happened. We were warmed up and ready and then it was like ‘Hey, here’s a lightning delay.’”
The Red Raiders had plenty of pop in their bats and belted 11 hits in the first game, which included four for extra bases.
An error and double gave the Red Raiders a quick 1-0 lead in the first. A hit batter put two on base before a single to center field. MCHS scored on the single, and after the ball was not fielded cleanly, each advanced a base to put runners at second and third with one out.
An ensuing sacrifice fly to center put GHS at a three-run disadvantage.
Madison added a fourth run in the third. A double and sacrifice bunt put a runner at third base, and she scored on a wild pitch.
GHS plated its only run in the third. Singles by Maddie Wright and Jasmine Staley gave the Cats some two-out hope. When Madison attempted to throw out Wright at third base on Staley’s single, it sailed wide of the bag and into the dugout.
Both runners were granted an additional base, which brought Wright home.
Three singles and a wild pitch allowed Madison to add a pair of runs in the fourth to extend its lead to 6-1. Two innings later, Madison stopped the game because of run differential.
With two outs and runners on second and third, Ella Chancey smashed a three-run home run over the left field fence for a six-inning victory.
Mckenzie Taylor and Wright both had two hits for GHS and Staley had one.
The Cats committed three defensive errors and two of the Red Raiders’ runs were unearned. Isabella Chastain pitched the entire game for Gilmer, which ended after 9 p.m.
Mullis was concerned about the late start of game two and wanted to keep Chastain fresh, but it was ultimately Madison’s decision whether to play immediately or wait until the following day.
“Before the (first) game, I told them I really didn’t want to start another game after 8 o’clock,” Mullis said. “Our hopes were that we throw Isabella again strong if we could come back the next day. (Assistant coach) Haley (Vick) told me she’s (Chastain) ready to go again and I had caught wind that their (Madison’s) second pitcher wasn’t as strong.
“They (Madison coaches) wanted to go ahead and play and they were pushing it. They kept saying ‘We’re supposed to play two games the first day.’ I just said, ‘You know what, we’re here, let’s play two.’”
GHS was the home team for the second game after playing the visitor for game one. The umpires also switched positions from the field and behind the plate, which led to some questionable calls that drew the ire of both teams’ fans.
“I usually don’t put a lot on the umpires because you just can’t,” Mullis said. “But they made some very bad calls both ways. The home plate ump was very inconsistent.
“But the other thing about it, too, is we weren’t being very aggressive at the plate. We don’t need to leave it up to the umpire on third strikes. We need to be going after it.”
Both teams had eight hits in game two, but it was the timely hits that evaded the Cats. Gilmer left five runners stranded in scoring position, which included two in the first inning when GHS loaded the bases but did not score.
Madison led off the top of the second with a solo home run by Kennedy Dixon. With two outs, a dropped ball at first base after receiving the throw from shortstop allowed MCHS to extend the inning.
The Red Raiders made the Cats pay with an ensuing two-run homer by Skylar Minish for a 3-0 lead.
During Madison’s next at-bat, GHS got two outs. However, a walk and three straight singles plated two more runs, and the Cats fell behind, 5-0.
Emily Dale led off with a double to begin Gilmer’s half of the third inning. She eventually moved to third base and scored when Macy Hamby grounded out to short.
GHS struck for a pair of runs two innings later. Staley singled and Hamby reached on an error before Issy Janssen slashed a two-run single to left field.
The score remained 5-3 in Madison’s favor until the seventh inning. What appeared to be a leadoff single to left field resulted in an out when Jacie Bennett made a diving catch. An infield hit was followed by a bloop single for Madison’s sixth run.
The Red Raiders scored their final run on a wild pitch. MCHS pitcher Emma Strickland struck out the side when the Cats came up for their final at-bat.
Dale led GHS offensively with three hits while Janssen, Taylor, Hamby, Wright and Staley all had one apiece.
Chastain was the only pitcher GHS used during the doubleheader and she tossed 222 total pitches. Madison had eight hits in the second game and Chastain struck out two. Two of the Red Raiders’ runs were unearned.
“She’s (Chastain) a star no doubt,” Mullis said. “She’s a workhorse and did everything we asked her to do this year and more. When the defense has failed her she’s kept going.”
GHS posted an 8-18 overall record and Dale and Janssen are its only seniors. Mullis hopes the Cats use the offseason to keep playing and expand their situational knowledge of the game.
“We definitely peaked at the right time,” she said. “We have a lot of the game to learn. These girls are athletic and capable, but they don’t know the game as well as they should. Some of these teams who are beating us, they know how to run the bases or when to take an extra base. It’s really hard to teach teenagers things you learn from playing over the years.
“I’ve encouraged them to play (travel) ball over the offseason. There’s probably at least six solid ones that will and maybe more. I’m encouraging them to find teams. Even if they can only play here and there that’s fine because it’s a lot of time, commitment and money. We’re definitely already looking toward next year and it looks positive.”