Woodland cruises to region win at Cass

Although the Lady Cats trailed early at Cass, the Woodland softball team scored nine unanswered runs from the third inning forward to win easily at their region and county rival 9-1.

Woodland, winners of three straight, pounded out thirteen hits to provide all the run support pitcher Lainey Baker (photo) would need for her complete-game win.

After the Colonels’ Alexis Woods reached and came around to score in the first inning, Baker -- a sophomore -- scattered only three Cass hits over the next six innings and struck out thirteen without walking anyone. Woodland tied the game 1-1 in the third inning, then added three runs in the fourth and fifth innings before adding two more insurance runs in the seventh inning. Cass pitcher Rachael Lee (7 IP, 9R, 4ER, 13H, 1BB, 2K) also worked a complete game in the loss. Five of the runs against her were unearned as the Lady Colonels committed four errors. Hannah Miller (double), Bella Carnes (two stolen bases, 2 RBI), and Baker (double, RBI) paced Woodland with three hits each. Ansley Evans had a double and one RBI. Allyssa Motes contributed one RBI with one hit. Cassie Jones (RBI) and Kendyl Hardin added one hit each. Morgan Bailey finished with two RBI.

Woods, a Cass freshman, not only scored the Colonels’ only run but had three of her team’s four hits. She doubled in the third inning and singled in the sixth. Kylee Hembree had the other Cass base hit with a double in the fourth inning.

After winning five straight, the Lady Colonels have now dropped three of their last four games. Cass (6-4, 3-3 Region 7-AAAAA) will host East Paulding Wednesday at 5:55 p.m. and region-leading Carrollton Thursday.

The win by the Lady Cats lands them firmly among the region’s top two or three teams in the current region standings. Carrollton is unbeaten in the league through six games. Woodland (5-5, 4-2) will host Hiram Wednesday and Paulding County Thursday. Both games are scheduled for 5:55 p.m.