Lady Bearcats fall in 7th inning of softball scrimmage

Published 3:56 pm Saturday, August 6, 2011

Visiting Seminole County scored a run in the top of the seventh inning, eventually defeating Bainbridge’s Lady Bearcats, 8-7, at home Thursday evening.

Bainbridge coach Eugene Singletary said his team had their chances to win, but could not capitalize.

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“We made a few baserunning errors that cost us a run or two,” he said. “We had some defensive mistakes that cost us, and we left too many runners in scoring position. We need to fix those things or they’ll hurt us in the regular season.”

Accoring to Georgia High School Association rules, teams are allowed one scrimmage game each season, but the results do not count toward the regular season record.

Bainbridge’s first regular season game will be at home Tues., Aug. 10, with the junior varsity starting at 4 p.m. and the varsity scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m.

Thursday, Seminole County took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the Lady Cats responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Caitlin Cato led off with a single, and Briana Wade singled two batters later — both runners eventually scored on an error. Laura Griner reached on a one-out walk and Lindsey Griner later reached on an error. Anna Barber’s two-out RBI single scored Lindsey Griner, while Laura Griner scored on an earlier error.

Seminole County scored two runs in the top of the second to move back in front, 5-4, but Bainbridge tied it in the bottom of the inning. Cato led off with a single, moved to second on a fly out, stole third, and eventually scored on Kristen Bennett’s one-out RBI groundout.

The Lady Cats took a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the third, when Barber led off with a walk and moved to second on Tiffany Hand’s sacrifice bunt. Barber stole third, and came home to score on Avis Jackson’s RBI single.

Seminole County moved back in front with two runs in the top of the fourth, but again Bainbridge tied it in the bottom of the ininng. Bennett led off with a double and was replaced by courtesy runner Blair Morris. Anna Barber’s one-out single put runners at the corners, and Morris scored one batter later on Hand’s RBI sacrifice fly to center.

Neither team scored in the fifth or sixth innings, before Seminole County broke the tie in the top of the seventh. Kassi Herring and Jessi Helms singled to put runners at first and second with no out, but Bainbridge starting pitcher Jackson retired the next two batters to limit the damage. However, Shymeshia Hopkins’ ground ball just squeezed up the middle, allowing Herring to score when the throw from the outfield was cut off.

Bainbridge’s batters went down in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Jackson pitched the complete game, allowing eight runs — but only two were earned. She scattered nine hits, stuck out one batter and walked two.

“Avis did a pretty good job,” Singletary said.