GAINESVILLE — The Gainesville girls softball team not only showed off some of its new pitching, but also its new digs Wednesday.
The Lady Red Elephants christened their brand new on-campus field, for now called the GHS Softball Field, with a solid 4-1 victory over Chestatee.
Junior Isabella Folger tossed a four-hitter and struck out nine. Emma Phillips provided the offense with a three-run triple in a four-run third inning.
Chestatee (1-1) scored its only run in the sixth.
"It was a very exciting way to start the season," Gainesville coach Katie Jo Gentry said. "There is already some momentum building, especially with a win like that."
The new field has been a project in the making for more than a year and features a state-of-the-art video board, complete with highlight videos of players as they come to bat.
The only thing to mar the day was a nearly 90-minute rain delay just as Folger was ready to throw the opening pitch. Gentry said the planning of the field then took center stage.
"The amount of thought that has gone into the field is amazing. The drainage is outstanding. For most other fields (that amount of rain) would have been a rainout," Gentry said.
Gainesville (1-0) will be back in action at home on Saturday. The Lady Red Elephants will take on rival North Hall at 9 a.m. and then face Hart County at 1 p.m. North Hall and Hart County will battle at 11 a.m.
The Lady War Eagles next will play host to Fannin County on Thursday.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/8/700880/softball-ghs-home-opener