The Gilmer High Lady Cats are still searching for their first softball victory.
GHS wrapped up a tournament in Dalton last Saturday and posted a 0-3 record at the event.
The Cats began the tournament Friday and narrowly lost to the Ridgeland Panthers, 2-1. The Cedartown Bulldogs were up next on Saturday, and GHS was tasked with playing from behind all game. The Cats were able to draw within four runs entering the fifth inning, but fell short at the end, 15-8.
Gilmer took the field for a final time against the Rockmart Yellow Jackets and were run-ruled in three innings, 16-0.
GHS has been dealing with some injuries to start the season. All-region catcher Maddie Wright left the first game of the season versus Sprayberry, Aug. 7 and has yet to return to her spot behind the plate. Fellow all-region performer center fielder Jacie Bennett did not play in the Cats’ final game Saturday against Rockmart.
Hits were scarce to begin the tournament versus Ridgeland. GHS was limited to five hits and left four runners stranded in scoring position. The Cats took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Zoey Woody singled to score Bennett who led off the game with a base hit to center.
In the fourth, Gilmer’s first two hitters reached base on an error and walk, but the Cats could not take advantage. The Panthers evened the score in their half of the inning.
In the fifth, RHS loaded the bases with a single and two bunts. GHS was able to limit the damage and held the Panthers to a run on a sacrifice fly, but they were able to pull ahead, 2-1. GHS could not even the score in the top of the sixth, and the game was called because of time.
Woody pitched for GHS and allowed six hits, one earned run while striking out two and walking three.
Twelve errors doomed Gilmer against Cedartown as just three of the Bulldogs’ 15 runs were earned. CHS plated three runs in the first inning, eight in the third and four more in the fifth.
Macy Hamby had a strong day offensively for GHS as she was 3 for 3 and tallied five RBIs. She started off the second inning with a solo homer to center. Teammate Sierra Williams singled with one out to score Chesney Mathews as the Bulldogs’ lead was cut to 3-2.
However, GHS was down 11-2 when it came to bat in the third. Taylor Elliott scored when Woody grounded out, and Hamby trotted home when Jocelyn Birko singled to left.
Hamby’s two-out bases loaded double scored three runs in the fourth inning, and Cedartown hung on to an 11-7 lead. Lady Cat Ally Stanley knocked in Gilmer’s final run later in the fifth inning.
Rockmart racked up seven hits in the first inning and had seven runs to show for its efforts by the time the third out was recorded. The Yellow Jackets collected four more hits in the second inning, which included a three-run home run.
By the time RHS came up to bat in the third, they possessed a 13-0 lead. Rockmart tacked on three more runs, and the game was called early when GHS was unable to cut into the Jackets’ lead in its half of the third.
Rockmart outhit GHS 13-4. Hamby tossed an inning and allowed eight earned runs off eight hits and two walks. Woody pitched two innings and was charged with six earned runs off five hits while striking out two and walking one.
Lady Cats Tori Hughes, Birko, Hamby and Elliott each had a hit.
Errors plagued the Cats versus rival Pickens last Monday to start the week. Pickens tallied 11 hits in a 9-0 five-inning victory, and four GHS errors led to eight unearned runs. Wright batted for Gilmer but did not play defensively and she collected the Cats’ only hit.
PHS scored four runs in the first, three in the third and two in the fifth.
Gilmer is 0-5 and traveled to Lumpkin County at press deadline.