GAINESVILLE — The North Hall softball team swept past Chestatee on Wednesday in the first round of the Region 8-AAAA playoffs in Gainesville.
The Lady Trojans (18-7) took Game 1 by a final score of 12-0 in four innings due to the run rule and completed the sweep with a 13-1 win in Game 2.
Niki Carver led the offense in Game 1, going 3 for 3 with a pair of doubles, three RBI, and two runs scored. North Hall scored five runs in the third inning on consecutive hits by Kailee Dyer (2 for 4, 2 runs), Kendyl Chase (2 for 3, 1 RBI), Niki Carver, and Carson McCormack (1 for 1, 1 RBI, 2 runs, 1 stolen base). The Lady Trojans scored seven runs in the fourth inning highlighted by doubles from Carver and Ashley Goines (2 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 run). Camilla Howell, Kadie Sullens, Carson Negley, and Logan Savage also scored runs for North Hall in Game 1.
Chase (3 for 4, 3 RBI, 1 run), Carver (2 for 3, 2 RBI, 3 runs, 1 stolen base), Sullens (2 for 2, 2 RBI, 1 run), and McCormack (3 for 4, 1 run, 1 stolen base) had the hot bats in Game 2. Ashlyn Brewster (1 for 1, 2 runs, 1 stolen base), Howell (1 for 2, 1 RBI, 2 runs, 1 stolen base), and Negley (1 for 2, 1 run) also contributed to the offense. Carver hit her second inside the park home run of the year in the fifth inning. It was her sixth home run overall.
Chase picked up her 14th and 15th victories of the season by pitching both games of the doubleheader. She pitched a total of nine innings while allowing seven hits and no walks. Chase struck out five batters.
North Hall travels to Madison County on Saturday for a second round playoff series.
