GAINESVILLE — North Hall continued its push on Thursday to get back in the race fora playoff spot in Region 8-4A.
The Lady Trojans won their third straight game, holding on for a 2-1 win over Madison County at home. The win puts North Hall (7-6, 3-4 Region 8-4A) within one-half game of fourth place.
Ashley Callahan gave the Lady Trojans all they needed with a two RBI hit in the bottom of the fourth.
Olivia Mullins did the rest in the circle allowing just one run, scattering three hits and striking out seven. Mullins also had two hits.
Bre Stowers had a single and a double for North Hall, which is off until Wednesday when it plays host to Lumpkin County in a non-region game.
CHEROKEE BLUFF 6,
NORTH OCONEE 4
Staying in Region 8-4A, the Lady Bears (6-5, 4-4 Region 8-4A) moved into a tie for fourth place with a win over the Lady Titans on the road.
Cherokee Bluff erased a 3-2 deficit in the sixth with a two-run single from Kaitlyn Herren. Bluff added two more runs from there.
Audrey Graham got the win for Bluff giving up four runs on nine hits and striking out three in 6 1/3 innings.
The Lady Bears pounded out nine hits with Angelina Baronci, Sophie Goodballet, Lauren Rule, and Herren each collecting at least two hits. Rule powered the offense with 4 RBI.
WALNUT GROVE 9,
EAST HALL 8
Also in Region 8-4A, the Lady Vikings nearly staged their biggest comeback of the season against the first-place and region-unbeaten Lady Warriors.
East Hall trailed 7-0 heading to the bottom of the fourth before finally getting the offense going with a pair of runs in the fourth on RBI singles from Aniyah Smith and Lacei Bunte. However, Smith was gunned down at the plate trying to score and loomed large later.
Walnut Grove (9-4, 8-0 Region 8-4A) pushed the lead to 9-2 in the fifth but the Lady Vikings exploded for six runs in the sixth.
Smith and Amari Burce both scored on passed balls and Elvie Armour made it 9-5 with a two-out, RBI single. Callie Dale then followed with a three-run homer to close the gap to 9-8.
The East Hall defense, which had committed three errors in the game, kept it close, turning a double play in the top of the seventh to get out of a huge jam.
The Lady Vikings (5-6, 2-5 Region 8-4A) got the tying run and the winning run to the plate but could not complete the huge comeback.
Burce took the loss for East Hall giving up nine runs, only four earned, on 12 hits and struck out three.
Dale went 3-for-4 while Gracie Ausborn, Bunte, Smith, and Armour all had two hits for East Hall.
FLOWERY BRANCH 13,
CLARKE CENTRAL 1
The Lady Falcons (9-4, 5-1 Region 8-5A) took over sole-possession of first place in Region 8-5A with a dominating win in five innings on the road.
It was the third straight win for Flowery Branch, who leads Loganville (7-3, 4-1 Region 8-5A) by just one-half game. The Lady Falcons beat Loganville on Wednesday.
Alyssa Wagner got the win in the circle going the distance allowing just one run on two hits and striking out nine.
Branch had 12 hits and was paced by Wagner, who went 3-4 with 4 RBIs. Peyton Baker blasted a pair of home runs and knocked in four as well.
Mia Davis was 3-for-3 and Casey Beaver, Alyssa Herringshaw, Blakely Martin, and Hannah Loonubon all had hits for the Lady Falcons.
WINDER-BARROW 8,
JEFFERSON 6
Also in Region 8-5A, the Lady Dragons let an early 5-1 lead slip away with a chance to move into third place in the region.
Jefferson (8-5, 2-3 Region 8-5A) took the big lead in the second, scoring four runs, two on Lady Bulldoggs errors, a Reagan Hays RBI single, and then a RBI double from Audrey Burton.
Winder-Barrow (8-2, 4-1 Region 8-5A) tied the game at five in the third but Jefferson reclaimed the lead 6-5 in the bottom of the third. The Lady Bulldoggs took the lead for good with two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth.
Winder-Barrow’s Emily Hall held the Lady Dragons scoreless the rest of the way.
Both teams committed five errors in the game but Jefferson’s defense allowed six unearned runs.
Taylor Spivey took the tough loss for Jefferson, surrendering just seven hits.
BUFORD 13,
CENTRAL GWINNETT 1
Buford continued its best start since 2013 with a three-inning blowout win over the Lady Black Knights in Region 8-7A action at the Buford Softball Complex.
The Lady Wolves (10-0, 3-0 Region 8-7A) scored eight runs in the first and seven in the second.
Playing several younger players, freshman Caroline Stanton started the game and fanned all three batters she faced in the circle. Freshman Addison Rackley fanned two in her one inning and junior Emma Grace Williams struck out one in her one inning to close out the game. The trio combined on a no-hitter.
Freshman Summer Castorri led the way at the plate with three hits, including two doubles. Freshman Kadyn Gabrels had two hits and two RBI, junior Taryn Gibbs had a hit and two RBI, and senior Emma Manders had two hits and two RBI for Buford.
The Lady Wolves will resume region play on Tuesday traveling to Collins Hill.
