Softball: Bluff, Jefferson set up 1st place showdown with wins on Monday; Buford, Branch win

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Cherokee Bluff scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to rally past Seckinger, 9-8, on Monday at home.

 

The Lady Bears scored the winning run on a Lady Jaguars error with two outs. That came after Mac Warren drilled a two-run home run to center tie the game.

 

Seckinger took the quick lead in the first but Bluff scored twice in the second on a Warren two-out, two-run double to take a 2-1 lead. The Lady Jaguars reclaimed the lead in the third but the Lady Bears responded with three more in the bottom of the third on a passed ball, a fielder’s choice, and an error for a 5-3 lead.

 

Seckinger, however, appeared to take control, scoring once in the fourth and plating four in the sixth for an 8-5 lead. 

 

Payton Davis started and surrendered four runs (just two earned) on six hits and striking out four in four innings. Jaycee Archer got the win in relief, allowing four runs on six hits in three innings.

 

Warren finished with three hits and Audrey Graham and Lillie Diehl each had two hits for Cherokee Bluff.

 

The Lady Bears next will play host to Jefferson on Tuesday in a battle for first place in Region 8-3A.

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JEFFERSON 11,
EAST HALL 0 (5 inn)

The Lady Dragons stayed unbeaten with a dominating win over the Lady Vikings in a Region 8-3A contest at home on Monday.

Jefferson (9-0, 2-0 Region 8-3A) scored seven runs in the third powered by five hits, two errors and a walk in the inning that gave the Lady Dragons an 11-0 lead..

Ally Baldwin had three hits and three RBI to pace a 12-hit Jefferson attack. Sophia Bunn and Ava Catledge both had two RBI and Catledge had two hits for the Lady Dragons.

Braelynn Vandiver got the win for Jefferson tossing a one-hitter and striking out one in three innings. KristiAnn Truelove pitched the final two innings fanning three.

Aydan Gerrin took the loss for East Hall, giving up just five earned runs on 11 hits striking out three.

East Hall next will play host to Oconee County on Tuesday. Jefferson travels to Cherokee Bluff in a battle for first place in Region 8-3A.

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BUFORD 7,
COLLINS HILL 0

Senior Caroline Stanton (4-0) threw her 12th career no-hitter, striking out 15 batters in leading the Lady Wolves to a Region 8-6A win in Lawrenceville.

Buford (7-0, 1-0 Region 8-6A) scored four runs in the second and three in the third to blow the game open. Freshman LG Goldin continued her onslaught at the plate, with two hits -- a triple and a home run -- and three RBI to pace the offense. Lily Dinca, Lydia Hamrick, and Summer Castorri all had a hit and an RBI each for Buford.

The Lady Wolves will be back in action on Thursday, playing host Central Gwinnett in another Region 8-6A contest.

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FLOWERY BRANCH 8,
JOHNS CREEK 1

The Lady Falcons won their second tsraight game behind a solid pitching performance from Ella Hooper

Hooper went the distance, scattering five hits and yielding just the one run while fanning four.

She would get all the supprt she needed in the first when Lily Kotula tripled in a run and Lindsey Heck knocked in a run with a RBI groundout. Branch added a run in the second, two in the third and fourth innings and another in the sixth to put the game away.

Kotula had three hits and Natalie Brennan had two hits and three RBI for the Lady Falcons (6-4). Hooper also had two hits at the plate for Branch.

The Lady Falcons next will travel to Lanier on Tuesday.