The Lady Cats varsity softball team is making a name for themselves at the Elite Eight competition in Columbus.

The Lady Cats faced off against Walnut Grove on Thursday, coming out victorious in a 7-2 win.

The team started off strong in the first inning, when Mabry Grace Briggs hit a line drive, followed by Mckynleigh Harrell hitting a home run and giving Bainbridge a 2-0 lead.

The team continued to light up the field when Lexie Delbrey hit a homerun in the second inning, while Walnut Grove still had no points on the board.

However, Walnut Grove made their move in the third inning, when they scored two runs. The Lady Cats refused to let them score any more points, and took a four point lead by the end of the fourth inning.

Senior Desirae Beachem got a homerun of her own in the fifth inning, bringing the score to 7-2 and sealing the win for Bainbridge.

Delbrey and Abigail Gardner were credited with the win for BHS. Delbrey pitched five innings, allowing two runs on one hit and striking out nine. Gardner relieved Delbrey and pitched the last two innings, recording six outs.

Walnut Grove’s Chasiti Wade took the loss, allowing 12 hits and seven runs over five innings. She struck out two and walked one.

Harrell and Gardner lead the Lady Cats in hits, while the team tallied 13 hits total for the game.

With a rain delay, the team had to wait another day to play their second game against South Effingham, where they won 4-1.

The team came out hot. Halle Cannon hit a double on a line drive and brought home Beachem and Gardner, who were waiting to run home on second and third base in the first inning.

In the fourth inning, the Lady Cats scored again after South Effingham’s first baseman reached on an error and Gardner ran home.

After two innings of countless outs, Delbrey hit a homerun in the seventh inning, and brought home a win for BHS.

However, at the bottom of the seventh South Effingham did score on a groundout, giving them one run on the board.

The team will play again Saturday morning at 9 a.m. against Locust Grove in Columbus, and if they win will compete in the state championship at 2:15.

Coach Christopher Bryant said the team isn’t nervous they are just ready to compete.

“The whole experience has just been exciting,” he said. “The venue, playing against the best teams in the state; this is something we will never forget.”

Bryant also wants to thank everyone who supported them Wednesday when they headed out on the road.

“It was unreal to see the community come together like that,” Bryant said. “There was someone at every street corner cheering us on and wishing us luck.”