Ware County recorded its first Region 1-AAAA series sweep knocking off visiting Warner Robins in a doubleheader Tuesday.
The Lady Gators (3-9-1 overall, 2-1 region) swept the September 10 region twinbill from visiting Warner Robins winning both via the “mercy rule.” Ware County notched an 11-3 decision in the six-inning opener and rolled 14-2 in the nightcap in four innings.
The sweep gave the Lady Gators three wins in their last four games after going winless in their first nine outings.
The Thursday, September 12 matchup with seventh- ranked region foe Wayne County was cancelled due to rain. The two teams will play back-to-back days Tuesday, October 1 (Jesup) and Wednesday, October 2 (Ware County).
The Lady Gators had just one game on the schedule this week traveling Tuesday (September 17) to regionmate Perry, Brantley County visits Monday, September 23 with Brunswick coming to town Thursday, September 26 for a doubleheader.
Game 1 Lady Gators ..............................................11 Warner Robins ..........................................3
Ware County scored in every inning taking advantage of seven walks, nine hit batters and four errors by the Lady Demons to notch the victory.
Warner Robins scored single runs in the first, third and fifth against Reagan Middleton (6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 K, 2 BB, 1 WP).
The Lady Demons’ first run came courtesy of a leadoff triple and passed ball just six pitches in.
Ware County quickly tied the game. Molly Smith was hit with the first pitch of the inning, moved around to third on two passed balls and scored when the throw to third skipped away for an error.
A one-out walk to Ashlyn Jacobs (1-for-2) was followed by a first-pitch single by Amberly Padgett (3for-3). A two-out walk to Kallie Lairsey extended the inning and loaded the bases. Ella Musgrove was hit two pitches later forcing home Jacobs for a 2-1 lead.
The Lady Gators plated a run in the second after Middleton escaped a oneout, bases loaded situation in the top of the inning with consecutive strikeouts.
Paislee Wildes (2-for-3) was hit by the first pitch of the inning, stole second and moved to third on a groundout. After Kara Coleman (1-for-3) walked on four pitches putting runners on the corners, Wildes scored on a double steal.
Ware County responded to the Lady Demons’ third inning run with one in the bottom of the inning.
The Lady Gators’ Kayleigh LeMay reached on a one-out fielding error and moved up to second on Wildes’ sacrifice bunt. After Smith was hit by a pitch loading the bases, LeMay scored on Coleman’s fielder’s choice groundout for a 4-2 lead.
Ware County’s fourth inning run came courtesy of a bases loaded passed ball. Padgett led off with a single, Lairsey was hit by a one-out pitch and Musgrove walked loading the bases. A 2-0 passed ball scored Padgett for a 5-2 margin.
After Warner Robins scored its final run in the top of the fifth, the Lady Gators followed with consecutive three-run rallies.
Coleman drew a leadoff walk, Jacobs was hit by a pitch and Padgett walked loading the bases. An error scored Coleman and Jacobs for a 7-2 working margin. After Lairsey was hit putting runners on the corners, a wild pitch allowed Padgett to score.
An error set up the final three runs forcing the “mercy rule.” LeMay reached on a leadoff error, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Wildes. After Smith was hit by a pitch, Coleman’s single plated Wildes for a 10-2 lead ahead of Smith scoring the final run.
Game 2 Lady Gators ...........14 Warner Robins........2
The Lady Gators built a 4-0 lead through two innings and finished the “mercy ruled” game with back-to-back five-run uprisings in finishing off the sweep.
Ware County struck for three runs in its first at bat. Smith (3-for-3) led off with a single, stole second and scored on Jacobs’ (2for-3) one-out single.
After a walk to Padgett (1-for-2), the two base runners executed a double steal with Jacobs scoring on a throwing error by the catcher. Padgett, who took third on the play, came home to score on a wild pitch for the 3-0 lead.
Wildes (1-for-2) led off the second with a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball, stole third and scored on Smith’s sacrifice bunt extending the margin to 4-0.
Warner Robins scored a run in the third against LeMay (3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 K, 0 BB) on a twoout single to cut the margin to 4-1.
The Lady Gators responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame for a 9-1 lead. Middleton scored the first run drawing a leadoff, walk, a theft of second, and raced home on Lairsey’s (3-for-3) bloop single to center.
Courtesy runner Addison Pittman scored from second when Makaylen Robertson’s (1-for-3) sacrifice bunt was misplayed. A single by Wildes was followed by Smith’s two-run triple for a 9-1 advantage.
After the Lady Demons plated a two-out run in the top of the fourth, Ware County five times in the bottom of the inning ending the game on Coleman’s (1-for-4) one-out, two-run single.
The Lady Gators loaded the bases with one out on singles by Padgett, Lairsey and pinch-hitter Mattie Forsyth. Robertson singled home Padgett with the first run.
Wildes reached on an error scoring Pittman to boost the margin to 10-2. Smith delivered a runscoring single followed by Coleman’s game-ending single.
