RABBITTOWN — After a wild summer of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 virus and the myriad of government restrictions that came with it, Gracie Ausborn is just glad to have something to do.
“It was difficult because from a players standpoint you weren’t sure if you should practice that much if you’re not going to play the season. It was hard. It’s just great to be out here playing,” the East Hall sophomore shortstop said Wednesday after leading the Lady Vikings to a 12-1 win in five innings over Chestatee in both teams’ Region 8-4A opener at East Hall Park.
“Just trying to be grateful for everything right now and not take anything for granted because it could be taken away at any moment with all this crazy stuff. As a team I think we’re really just now starting to click a little bit.”
It sure showed in all phases as Ausborn had three of East Hall’s six hits to back Callie Hardison’s dominant performance in the circle. Hardison fanned 11 Chestatee batters in four innings of work allowing just three hits and one run.
The Lady Vikings improved to 4-0 overall, 1-0 in Region 8-4A play and East Hall coach Anuel Burce said they are making strides, though it’s still early.
“At the plate I think we’re doing a great job getting some key hits and taking advantage of mistakes the other teams are making. Defensively we may still need to work on some communication,” Burce said. “I don’t think we’re where we can get quite yet. I think we can be a lot better and I think with time we’ll get there.”
Things started quick for East Hall as Hardison quickly mowed down the Lady War Eagles in the first, including a pair of strikeouts. Then the Lady Vikings offense went to work.
Alexis Burce reached on an error and scored on a RBI double from Ausborn. Hardison then singled in Ausborn and she eventually came around to score on a pair of groundouts and another Chestatee error. East Hall added another run on a RBI single from Elvie Armour for a 3-0 lead after the first inning.
Hardison continued to roll through the Chestatee lineup striking out the side in the second after Morgan Hunt singled to lead off the inning for the Lady War Eagles. Hardison’s only blemish came in the third when Chestatee plated its only run on back-to-back two-out doubles by McKayla Hunt and Lacy James to trim the lead to 5-1.
That would be it, however, for Chestatee (1-1, 0-1 Region 8-4A) as Hardison struck out the side in the fourth. Maggie Banks pitched the final inning surrendering one hit and fanning one.
The East Hall offense scored in every inning. In the second, Lizzy Davis reached on an error and moved to second on a groundout. Ausborn reached on a one-out single to right and both her and Davis scored on a two-run double by Hardison for a 5-0 lead.
In the third the Lady Vikings got a run helped by three Chestatee errors but left the bases loaded with a chance to blow it open. They did that in the fourth getting six runs on a sacrifice fly from Abi Mullins, an error, a bases-loaded wild pitch, and a two-run infield single by Ausborn.
East Hall next will travel to North Oconee on Thursday.
Chestatee will play host to Flowery Branch on Thursday at Talon Field in another Region 8-4A battle.
