FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Cherokee Bluff coach Josh Joiner said his team put it together Tuesday night in the 9-1 blowout win over Jefferson at home.
Indeed, they did, and Mac Warren was a massive part of the offensive explosion for the Lady Bears (4-1, 2-0 Region 8-3A).
Warren was 3-for-4 with four RBIs, including a huge three-run homer in the sixth inning to run-rule the Dragons. The Bears finished the day with nine runs on 12 hits.
"We had really good at-bats," Joiner said. "We've been harping on them for the last three weeks about our bats ... we've not really been super satisfied with them, in totality. Tonight, they just kind of put things together."
The Lady Dragons (9-1, 1-1 Region 8-3A) had outscored their early opponents 101-7 heading into the matchup against Bluff. The Bears held Jefferson to just one run on three hits, their lowest output of the season.
"We still have two more matchups with them," he said. "So, it's step one. But all the wins are big wins, all region wins are big wins, and so we're going to count each one of them. But it's good to beat a really good team like that, and to play really well against a really good team like that."
Jefferson was the first to strike in the key region battle after Sara Grace Cooper ripped a solo home run to center field in the top of the first.
After that, it was all Bluff, scoring five runs over the next three innings. A Claire Carlson two-RBI single lifted the Bears to the lead for good in the second inning, 2-1. In the third, Audrey Graham doubled in a run, and Quinn Kiewert's sac fly brought home another run to push the lead, 4-1.
Carlson added one more RBI to her total in the sixth inning on a single. Warren's three-run shot ended the game in the sixth inning.
"I think when we talk about playing to our potential, a game like tonight is a good example of the girls playing to their potential," Joiner said. "It wasn't perfect because we made our mistakes, but the effort was a complete effort. It was really good."
Payton Davis earned the win for the Bears, allowing just three hits and one run over six innings. She had four Ks and one walk in the complete-game performance.
"Payton pitched a gem out there tonight," Joiner said. "She gave up that one home run in the first, then she just went out there and pitched her tail off."
Sophia Bunn, Braelynn Vandiver and Cooper all had a hit to lead the Dragons.
The Bears can take the lead in the standings with a win over No. 1 Monroe Area on the road Thursday.
SOFTBALL SCOREBOARD FOR TUESDAY, AUG. 26
Apalachee 5, Habersham Central 3*
Banks County 5, Providence Christian 2*
Cherokee Bluff 9, Jefferson 1
Chestatee 20, Meadowcreek 1
Dawson County 11, GAC 2*
East Forsyth 6, North Oconee 3*
East Hall 11, Oconee County 10*
Elbert County 11, Commerce 2*
Flowery Branch 9, Lanier 3
Franklin County 18, East Jackson 3*
Johns Creek 20, Gainesville 1*
Loganville 17, Jackson County 9*
Lumpkin County 5, North Hall 3*
Monroe Area 17, West Hall 0*
North Forsyth 9, 6, Lambert 8, 15* (DH)
Oglethorpe County 10, Rabun County 6*
Pickens 6, White County 0*
(* -- denotes region contest)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2025/8/1299419/softball-scoreboard