Cass, Woodland split region doubleheader

Cass and Woodland split a doubleheader Tuesday night as the two local teams squared off in a pair of Region 7-AAAAA tilts on the banks of the Etowah. Woodland took the opener 6-0 with Cass winning the nightcap, 7-5. Lainey Baker tossed a two-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts in the Lady Cats’ win while the top three hitters in the Woodland lineup had two hits each. Morgan Cooper doubled twice. Ansley Evans had two hits and one RBI while Michiah Hicks had two hits and walked twice. Baker added a hit and two RBIs for Woodland and Hannah Miller finished with a hit and one RBI. The Lady Colonels’ two hits came as doubles off the bats of Alexis Woods and Rachael Lee. Maddie Bentley (6 IP, 6R, 5ER, 8H, 6BB, 5K) suffered the pitching loss for Cass. In Game 2, Woodland led 5-4 heading to the final frame but the Lady Colonels rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh to overcome the deficit. Cass pitcher Kylee Hembree then shut down the Lady Cats in the home half of the seventh to secure the doubleheader split. Hembree (7 IP, 5R, 3ER, 5H, 4BB) tossed a complete game to earn the victory in the finale’. Woodland’s Baker (7 IP, 7R, 4ER, 7H, 2BB, 7K) — who won Game 1 — suffered the pitching loss in the nightcap. Eryn Lee led the Cass offense with two hits including a double and four RBIs. Alexis Woods also had a pair of doubles. Ansley Hight drove in a run with one hit. Kendyl Hardin drove in a run with a sacrifice fly while Hembree and Haylee Dishmon (double) both contributed with one hit each. Woodland utilized the long ball for much of their offense. Michiah Hicks, Hannah Miller, and Lainey Baker all hit solo home runs for the Lady Cats. Hicks finished with two hits. Ansley Evans added one hit and Kailey Baker drove in one run. Woodland (3-2, 1-1) hosts Calhoun Thursday night at 7:30 p.m and will entertain Blessed Trinity in a region doubleheader next Tuesday (August 25). Cass (6-2, 1-1) squares off with Blessed Trinity Thursday at the Cass athletic complex and will host Cartersville on the 25th.