CANEY BAY — A 12-2 victory here in Saturday’s “if” game against Fannin County propelled Brantley County into the second round of the Class A Division I state tournament and a date with a small school softball power.
The Lady Herons (198), who entered the 32team field as a 15th seed, spotted the 18th-seed Lady Rebels a one-game lead before storming back with a pair of “mercy rule” 10-run decisions. Fannin County posted a 2-1 win in the Friday, October 18 series opener with BCHS notching a 13-3 decision in six innings in Game 2. The finale reached the fifth inning before being called.
Brantley County travels to Chickamauga for a second round matchup with top-ranked and No. 2 seed Gordon Lee (27-3) in a best-of-3 series beginning with a doubleheader Thursday, October 24. An “if” game would be played Friday, October 25.
The Lady Trojans have captured 10 Class A state titles since 2004 with the last coming in 2021. Gordon Lee played up in classification the last two years before dropping back down to Class A.
The winner advances to meet the survivor of a Region 4 matchup of sixthranked and 10th-seed Social Circle, the regular season champion, at seventh- seed Lamar County, who tied for second in the region standings.
In other Region 1 action, ninth-ranked and fourth-seed Bacon County (18-4) ousted regionmate Worth County, the 29th seed, with an 11-2, 14-0 sweep. The Lady Red Raiders host 13th-seed Haralson County, which knocked out 20th-seed Thomasville 7-1, 14-11. Jeff Davis (19-8), the ninth seed, blanked 24thseed Armuchee 5-0, 13-0. The Lady Yellow Jackets travel to Macon to face sixth-ranked and eighthseed ACE Charter.
Berrien, seeded 21st, lost to 12th-seed Vidalia 81, 7-3. The Lady Indians get third-ranked and fifthseed Banks County.
Game 1 No. 18 Fannin Co. ....2 No. 15 Lady Herons..1
The Lady Rebels used a two-run fourth inning and held off Brantley County’s attempts at rallying to take the series opener.
Fannin County scored its runs against Reagan Mclain (7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 K, 3 BB, 1 WP), who threw just 73 pitches in the complete game effort.
The Lady Herons out hit the visitors 7-3 with Brooklyn Wildes leading the way with a 2-for-4 performance. McLain (stolen base), who drove in the only run, Rilee Story (stolen base), Chelsea Turner, Lexi Byrd and Jayden Lewis each went 1for-3.
Brantley County stranded seven runners while the Lady Rebels left three runners on base.
Game 2 No. 15 Lady Herons13 No. 18 Fannin Co. ....3
Brantley County pulled away from a 2-0 lead in the first inning using a pair of five-run outbursts to even the series forcing a deciding “if” game with the six inning win.
The Lady Herons banged out 13 hits, five extra base hits, against two pitchers (five walks) with seven of the 13 runs earned to back the two-hit pitching of Mary Hall (6 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 7 K, 0 BB, 1 WP), who needed 74 pitches. Fannin County committed four errors.
Wildes led BCHS at the plate for the second straight game going 3-for-4 with a triple, three RBIs and one of the six Lady Herons’ stolen bases.
Lydia Anderson (2-for4, RBI, triple, stolen base), Sydnee Davis (RBI, stolen base), Story (RBI, triple, two stolen bases) and Turner (RBI, double, third homer) all went 2-for-4.
Ella Blocker, Kelsie Bishop (RBI, stolen base) and Byrd (two RBI) added a hit apiece.
Brantley County stretched a 2-0 first inning lead to 7-0 with a five-run third. Each team scored a run in the fourth. The Lady Herons chased home five runs in the sixth inning to open up a 13-1 lead. Fannin County scored twice in the bottom of the sixth before the third out.
Game 3 No. 15 Lady Herons 12 No. 18 Fannin Co. ....2
The Lady Herons used a nine-run fourth inning to break away from a tworun advantage en route to the series-clinching victory.
Fannin County grabbed an early 1-0 lead before BCHS grabbed control with a three-run first against the mistake-prone Lady Rebels, who committed seven errors. Only two of Brantley County’s 12 runs were earned.
Down 1-0, the Lady Herons responded to take a 3-1 lead. The nine-run fourth extended the lead to 12-1. The Lady Rebels were unable to stay alive scoring just once in the fifth against Turner (5 IP 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 10 K, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 1 WP), who tossed 77 pitches.
Brantley County banged out 15 hits with seven going for extra bases. Anderson’s 3-for-3 (RBI) afternoon paced the Lady Herons.
Mclain (two RBI), Wildes (double, stolen base), Bishop (solo homer, sixth of season), Davis (RBI, double) and Byrd (two RBI, two doubles) recorded two hits apiece. Story (double) and Lewis (RBI, double) added a hit each.
