FLOWERY BRANCH - Flowery Branch senior Holli Lewis continued her strong pitching, tossing an eight-hit shut out over West Hall Tuesday in Region 7-AAA softball action.<br>
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The win for the Falcons (13-10, 5-2) moves them one-half game ahead of Chestatee (11-6, 4-2) in the standings into third behind undefeated Pickens and North Hall. They beat Chestatee earlier 6-1 and also hold the tiebreaker.<br>
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Flowery Branch got all the runs it needed on a bases-load single by junior Misty Thompson in the first inning. Lewis struck out 11 and solid defensive play forced the Spartans to strand 10 baserunners.<br>
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Coach Todd Henry said it was a nerve-wracking game.<br>
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"We're lucky to get out of their with our skins," he said. "To hold them to no runs is just amazing. but we made some big plays when we needed them."<br>
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The Falcons are the surprise team in the region so far and a favorable schedule could have them finish third, a favorable seeding slot. Of their 10 losses, seven have been by one run. Their two region losses were 1-0 to North Hall and 2-0 to Pickens.<br>
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The Falcons next will play Gilmer Tuesday at home. They finish against East Hall next Thursday and then Johnson the week after that.
