CHICKAMAUGA — Small school state power Gordon Lee, the No. 2 seed in the Class A state softball tournament, recorded a pair of five-inning “mercy rule” victories over 15th-seed Brantley County in second round action.
The Lady Trojans (29-3), winners in 21 of their last 22 games, notched a 10-2 decision in the Thursday, October 24 series opener against the Lady Herons (19-10). Gordon Lee captured Game 2 17-6 to advance to the “Elite 8” in Columbus where 10th-seed Social Circle awaits.
Two other members of Region 1 also went down in the second round. Fourthseed Bacon County was eliminated by 13th-seed Haralson County by the scores of 3-0 and 4-3.
Ninth-seed Jeff Davis was ousted in Macon by eighth-seed ACE Charter losing 5-4 and 6-4.
Game 1 No. 2 Gordon Lee ......................10 No. 15 Lady Herons.....................2
The Lady Trojans used a five-run fourth inning to break away from a 2-all tie and ended the game with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Gordon Lee plated single runs in the second and third innings against Reagan Mclain (3.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 2 K, 1 BB, 1 WP) in building a 2-0 lead.
The Lady Herons tied the game at 2apiece in the top of the fourth on a Jayden Lewis (2-for-2) two-run single scoring Rilee Story and Mallory Crosby. Lewis had half of Brantley County’s hits with Story (1-for-2) and Chelsea Turner (1-for-2) collecting the other two base knocks.
The Lady Trojans responded with their five-run outburst to stretch the margin out to 7-2. Gordon Lee chased home three runs in the bottom of the fifth against reliever Mary Hall (.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 K, 0 BB).
Game 2 No. 2 Gordon Lee.......................17 No. 15 Lady Herons.....................6
Gordon Lee struck for three runs in its first at bat and broke the game open with an eight-run fourth in the series-clinching win.
Brantley County matched the Lady Trojans in homers with each team blasting three. Kelsie Bishop (2-for-2, two RBI) hammered her seventh of the season while Lexi Byrd (2-for-2, two RBI) and Turner (1-for-3, RBI) each connected for their fourth of the year.
The Lady Herons’ pitching staff surrendered 17 hits and were charged with 15 earned runs. They did not record a strikeout and walked two.
Turner (3.1 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 0 K, 1 BB), Hall (.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 K, 0 BB), Edie Lowther (.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 K, 0 BB) and Mclain (.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, o K, 1 BB) all toed the runner for Brantley County. Turner served up two homers with Hall giving up one.
Gordon Lee followed a three-run first with a two-run second for a 5-0 lead. The Lady Herons plated three runs in the bottom of the second to get to within 5-3.
The eight-run fourth by the Lady Trojans pushed the margin out to 13-3. They added four runs in the fifth to open up a 17-3 bulge.
Brantley County chased home three runs in the bottom of the fifth before the final out was recorded.
Lydia Anderson, Brooklyn Wildes (double), Sydnee Davis and Story each went 1-for-3.
