Softball Chargers finish third in the GCAA Tournament

May 2, 2025

The bats for Georgia Highlands softball remained hot in Locust Grove on Friday, but the Chargers were not as productive as Gordon State. Consequently, the Highlanders eliminated GHC from the 2025 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association tournament with a score of 10-4.

Georgia Highlands finished 3-2 in the tournament and placed third. Gordon State advanced to the tournament finals, but lost later in the day to Georgia Military College 8-3 to finish runner-up.

The Chargers held a 3-1 lead in the middle of the third inning on Friday and were tied with Gordon 4-4 midway through the fourth. However, the Highlanders scored six unanswered runs over the next two innings to take control of the game.

Grace Kendrick (2.2 IP, 4ER, 5H, 2BB), Hayden Joyner (2 IP, 6ER, 6H, 1BB, 2K), and Hannah Mounce (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H) shared pitching duties for Georgia Highlands.

Emma Darrow led the Chargers’ offense with three hits. Mary Catherine Kimball (double, three RBI), Abbi Hall, and Cayden Warren produced two hits. Emmalee Freeman (RBI), Abbey Yates, and Joyner added one hit in the loss. 

“This group has overcome so much adversity and never stopped believing in what we are building,” commented GHC coach Tanner Robertson following her team’s tournament elimination. “To go from not placing last year to finishing in the top three this year says everything about their heart. I’m incredibly proud to be their coach. These girls have set the tone for what is to come. The future for this program is bright.”

Georgia Highlands finished the 2025 season with a 37-16 record. This was the team's best record since the 2017 team went 43-14 and lost to Georgia Military in the tournament finals. The winning record was the program’s first since 2021.

Freeman, Darrow, Joyner, Kimball, and Ahmani Green were selected for the GCAA First Team. Abbi Hall was named Second Team All-Region.