BUFORD — It was the most anticipated softball showdown of the young season as defending Class AAAAAAA state champion North Gwinnett traveled to defending Class AAAAA state champion Buford on Tuesday in the first game of a home-and-home series.
The Lady Bulldoggs were too much in the first matchup taking a 7-3 victory behind a powerful offense.
North Gwinnett pounded out 14 hits against 2016 Class AAAAA Pitcher of the Year Logan Caymol , who lasted just 4 1/3 innings allowing seven runs (4 earned) on 10 hits while fanning four and walking two. It was the first loss of the season for Caymol (3-1).
Buford opened with a run in the first inning but fell behind as North Gwinnett scored three unearned runs in the third. The Lady Wolves tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the inning on RBI hits by Hannah Jo Hyatt and Janelle Mathis.
But the Lady Bulldogs pulled away with a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth on four hits for a 7-3 lead.
Buford was not able to mount a comeback as the ofense managed just five hits against two North Gwinnett pitchers.
Junior Mariah Wicker had two hits and two stolen bases while seniors Kelsey Bennett, Hyatt, and Mathis each had one hit.
The two teams will complete the series on Thursday at North Gwinnett.
STEPHENS COUNTY 11
NORTH HALL 3
Stephens County completed a home-and-home sweep of North Hall Tuesday in girls softball action.
The Lady Indians pounded out 14 hits, including a first inning home run by Emma Whitfield, en route to an 11-3 victory at home.
Whitfield, who finished with three hits, highlighted a big opening frame to grab a lead the Lady Indians (8-0) would never relinquish. Bailey Dobbs, Jasmine Lowery, Mackenzie Rogers, and Kayley Sellers also each collected multiple hits for Stephens County.
North Hall (3-5) scored its three runs in the third inning. Macy Clark and Hannah Payne, who had two hits and two RBI, paced the Lady Trojans.
EAST HALL 9
UNION COUNTY 4
The Lady Vikings took an early lead and then held off Union County in a Region 7-AAA win Tuesday in Blairsville.
Since an 0-2 start, East Hall (5-3, 3-0 Region 7-AAA) has won five of its last six and the victory over the Lady Panthers (1-5, 1-2) pushed the Lady Vikings into first place in the region standings.
East Hall scored a run in the first off a Union County error and then used a four-run sixth inning, aided by two more Lady Panthers errors, to put the game out of reach.
Macy Banks earned the win for East Hall going seven innings allowing four runs and 10 hits and striking out three while walking none. Jillian Lawn took the loss for Union County also going the distance yielding 10 hits and fanning six batters.
Steffanie Redmon, Peyton Turner, and Abigail Brown each collected multiple hits for East Hall.
Union County was led by Ellie Garrison, Katelynn Hodges, and Bailey Rayfield, who each collected multiple hits in the game.
