FLOWERY BRANCH — Flowery Branch swept into the second round of the Class 4A girls softball playoffs with a pair of tight wins over Northwest Whitfield Friday night at the Hog Mountain Sports Complex.
The Lady Falcons took a dramatic 2-1 win in 10 innings in the first game getting a game-winning RBI single from freshman Avery Thomas. Senior pitcher Alyssa Kimbrell went the entire 10 innings to get the win for the Branch. In Game 2, senior pitcher Valerie Eder got five runs from the offense as they held off Northwest for a 5-3 victory to get the sweep.
Flowery Branch, the No. 2 seed from Region 7-4A, will travel to Region 8-4A champ Madison County next week in the second round.
BUFORD SWEEPS
Buford swept Southwest DeKalb 15-3 in four innings and 19-0 in three innings Friday in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. The Lady Wolves will travel to Woodland-Cartersville next week in the second round.
Buford got a 7-run first inning in the first game and used a pair of 9-run innings in the second inning to make quick work of the Lady Panthers.
In Game 1, senior Mariah Wicker hit her second home run of the season, a solo shot, to lead off the fourth inning while sophomore Abbi Perkins ended it with a two-run triple.
In Game 2, senior Hannah Morgan had three hits, including a home run, and four RBI. Junior Anabel Adams had three hits and three RBI, and sophomore Emi Hall had a big game getting her first varsity hit, a three-run home run.
CLASS 3A
In other action in Class 3A on Friday, Jefferson swept Cedar Grove 15-0 and 12-0 in the first round. The Lady Dragons will await the Lumpkin County-Ringgold winner in the second round.
Meanwhile, Lumpkin County split its first two games with Ringgold at home. The Lady Indians dropped the first game, 7-2, before rallying for a 5-4 win in the second game to extend the series. The teams will meet Saturday for a deciding Game 3 in Dahlonega.
Region 7-3A champion East Hall, however, was swept out by Coahulla Creek at East Hall Park. The Lady Vikings fell 3-0 and 6-5 in the first round.
IN CLASS 2A, Banks County, however, moved on in Class 2A rolling to a 14-0 win over Bremen in the two teams’ deciding Game 3 in Homer. The Lady Leopards will take on Region 7-2A champion Rockmart in the second round on the road.
