Big bats, solid defense give Bainbridge the wins they need to move on
Published 12:19 am Saturday, October 10, 2015
Bainbridge Lady Cats pitcher Addison Enfingers winds up her pitch as catcher Morgan Cannon awaits the ball behind home plate. — Jessica Cannon
Coach Chris Bryant’s Bainbridge Lady Cats softball team defeated the Crisp County High School Lady Cougars 11-7 Wednesday in the Region 1-AAAA Tournament in Albany to to secure a spot in the playoffs that led up to the State Class AAAA Tournament.
Among those leading the way for the Lady Cats was right fielder Mabry-Grace Briggs, who went 2-for-3 and drove in five runs. Trailing 4-1 at the end of the first inning, the Lady Cats scored seven in the bottom of the second to go ahead to stay at 8-4.
Briggs sparked the second inning rally with a home run.
Abigail Gardner was sharp on the mound. She gave up just one hit and no earned runs while striking out three and not giving up an earned run in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Addison Enfinger, who allowed four runs over four innings, picked up the victory.
Also on Wednesday The Lady Cats bowed 3-1 to the Cook County High School Lady Hornets 3-1.
Lady Hornets winning pitcher Lexie Wakker picked up the win for the Lady Hornets. She allowed just one run over seven innings wild striking out five, walking just one and giving up five hits.
The Lady Cats opened tournament play Tuesday when they defeated the Cairo High School Syrupmaids 2-1 and dropped an 11-6 decision to the Thomas County Central High School Lady Yellow Jackets.
Briggs drove in a run in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and give the Lady Cats their victory over the Syrupmaids. She drove in left fielder Taylor Swanner with an RBI double.
In the Lady Cats loss to Thomas County Central, the big scoring inning was the top of the sixth when five runs crossed the plate to cut the Lady Yellow Jackets lead to 11-6.
Left fielder Taylor Swanner had the big hit in the inning, tripling in three runs. The other two runs were driven in by Briggs, who doubled.
“As our games become fewer and fewer, our team seems to be growing stronger,” coach Bryant said. “The girls have played well together this week and have really put the pressure on some quality teams. If I could say one thing about the week, it was that the teams that beat us had to work for it. We never got down on ourselves and competed for seven innings every night.”
