Woodland wins series at St. Pius X; Cass falls at Chamblee
The Woodland softball team won both games of a doubleheader Tuesday at St. Pius X in Atlanta to win their best-of-three, Class AAAAA first round playoff series.
Woodland won the opening game 3-2 and took the nightcap, 6-4.
Woodland pitcher Lainey Baker struck out 11 in Game 1 and tossed a complete-game four hitter. Cassie Jones picked up the Game 2 win with six innings in the circle. Peyton Dorn closed out the seventh frame to earn a save.
Jones distributed eight hits and a walk while striking out four. Dorn allowed one unearned run without giving up a hit and she fanned one.
Michiah Hicks paced the Wildcats’ offense in Game 1 with three hits including a triple. Dylynn Motes, Baker, and Jessica Ryan all drove in runs.
Motes hit a first inning, two-run home run that gave Woodland a 2-1 lead in Game 2. The Lady Cats went on to build a 4-1 lead in the second inning and were up 6-1 through five frames. St. Pius scored twice in the sixth inning and added one more in the top of the seventh, but a groundout ended the Golden Lions late threat.
Hicks finished with five hits including a triple, double, and one RBI in the series. Motes (double, home run, 3 RBis) and Jessica Ryan (RBI) had three hits each. Jones (double), Dorn (double, RBI), and Baker (RBI) contributed two hits apiece. Jordan Hammonds (RBI), Cambrie Carrington (double), and Alana Carnes finished with one hit each in the doubleheader.
The Wildcats (15-13-2) advance to the second round where they will host Wayne County (6-12) who ousted No. 1 seed Woodward Academy Tuesday in their best-of-three series.
CASS ELIMINATED AT CHAMBLEE
The Cass softball team was knocked out of the Class AAAAA state playoffs Tuesday after being swept in a first round doubleheader at Chamblee 7-3 and 2-1.
The host Bulldogs took a 6-0 lead through the first two innings of the opening game and held on for a four-run victory. Cass scored three times in the fourth inning to cut the lead in half, but got no closer.
Ansley Hight hit a two-run home run in the third and courtesy runner Olivia Woods scored on a passed ball for the third Colonels’ run.
Alexis Woods tossed a complete-game gem in Game 2, but was outdueled in the circle by Chamblee’s Margaret Axelson. Woods scattered six hits and three walks allowed two earned runs. Axelson gave up nine hits and a walk but allowed just one earned run completing the best-of-three series sweep.
Alexis Woods (RBI) and Eryn Lee (2 doubles) both had three hits in the two games for Cass. Hight had two hits including her Game 1 two-run homer. Saydee Najarro also had two hits including a double in the twin bill. Rachael Lee, Haylee Dishmon, and Reese Howard each had one hit in the playoff series.
Shea Parker led Chamblee with five hits in the two game sweep.
Chamblee advances to the second round and will host a best-of-three series next week against the Coffee/Mundy’s Mill winner. The Colonels’ season ends with an 11-13 record.
