GAINESVILLE — North Hall swept its way into the second round of the Class AAA state tournament Wednesday.
The Lady Trojans (13-8) took 8-2 and 14-1 victories over Cedar Grove in their best-of-three first round series.
In Game 1, Ashlyn Brewster (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 Runs) and Julian Garrett (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 Runs) led the offense. Kailee Dyer, Macy Clark, and Kennedy Olson also scored runs. Niki Carver pitched a complete game allowing two unearned runs on one hit and one walk. She fanned 11 batters.
In Game 2, North Hall, the No. 2 seed from Region 7-AAA, jumped out to an early lead scoring eight runs in the first inning. Carson Negley (1-for-2, 1 Run) and Macy Clark (1-for-4, 2 Runs, 1 SB) got base hits around three Cedar Grove walks. Niki Carver (2-for-3, 5 RBI, 2 Runs) highlighted the big inning with a three-run home run.
The Lady Trojans added five more runs in the second inning. Brewster (1-for-3, 2 Runs, 1 SB) had the only hit of the inning as Cedar Grove's pitcher couldn't find the strike zone, and its defense made two costly errors. North Hall scored its final run in the fourth inning when Hailey Tanner crossed the plate on a single by Carver.
Charli Shepheard pitched four innings allowing one earned run on three hits and one walk and struck out five.
North Hall awaits the winner of the Worth County-Windsor Forest series in the second round.
