Lady Falcons crash Class AAA party

Posted 12:20AM on Saturday 25th October 2003 ( 21 years ago )

HAMPTON - The Flowery Branch girls softball team, making its first-ever state tournament appearance, advanced to the Sweet 16 of the Class AAA North sectionals Friday. The Lady Falcons (21-12) scored five-runs in the sixth inning to erase a 9-5 Stephens County lead and hold on for a 10-9 win and move one win from the state tournament set for next week. They beat Luella 7-1 in the opening round. Flowery Branch will find the going a little tougher when it plays last year's state champ and No. 1-ranked Grayson Saturday at 2 p.m. "They are the real deal, that's for sure," Flowery Branch coach Todd Henry said. "They've only lost two games all year, I believe, one to last year's Class AA champ Morgan County and the other to Sequoyah, which is a Class AAAAA school. They have strong pitching, hitting and defense. It'll take a near-perfect game for us to win." The Lady Falcons got two solid pitching performances from senior Holli Lewis, who allowed just 11 hits in the two games. But Henry said it was the offense that carried them Friday. They banged out 27 hits in the two games. And he likes his chances when they swing the bats well. "We have a great pitcher in Holli, so when we hit the ball well, I always like our chances," he said. "The offense was outstanding. Hopefully we can keep it up (Saturday)." The Falcons have to be considered the Cinderella of this year's tournament, having won only two games all of last year. "Yes, you're probably right. But deep down, I knew we were a good team before the season started and I felt that we could make the Sweet 16," Henry said. "But here we are and we have a chance to go farher than that. The way we're playing right now, I like our chances."

http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/10/170562