Calhoun opens postseason in dominant fashion
Tuesday marked a new phase of Calhoun’s schedule with the postseason starting as they hosted North Murray in the first round of the Region 6-AAA playoffs. Well, they’re off to quite a start in that phase.
The Lady Jackets, the No. 1 seed from the South subregion, dominated in all aspects of the home doubleheader and rode that impressive effort to a sweep to advance to the next round. They won Game 1, 12-0, in four innings and then continued the onslaught in Game 2 for another 12-0 victory in four innings.
Calhoun (27-1) clinched a state tournament berth with the series win and now advances to the second round of the region playoffs on Saturday when they will host LFO for a doubleheaders starting at 11 a.m. If a Game 3 is necessary, it will be played on Monday.
Calhoun coach Diane Smith said her team has been waiting to start the postseason, and their effort on Tuesday didn’t disappoint.
“We started a little slow in Game 1, but once we woke up, the hits started coming,” said Smith, who is in her 31st season as head coach of the Lady Jackets. “We hit it very well, our pitchers shut them down and we played solid defense behind them. What can I say, this team is ready.
“We’ve been waiting on this day for several weeks and looking forward to the postseason. It couldn’t get here quickly enough for me and the girls. We know it’s time to turn it up another notch.”
Calhoun scored two runs in the first inning of Game 1 to take a quick lead, but they took total control in the third when they banged out seven hits and added eight more to make it 10-0. They ended the game with an RBI-single by Allie Jones to force the mercy rule at 12-0 in the bottom of the fourth.
Jones was one of six Calhoun players with multiple hits in the first game as she finished 3-for-3 with 2 RBIs. Ryan Brzozoski also had three hits, including a homer, to go with two RBIs and two runs scored, and Alaina Reece was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Jana Johns got things going with a two-run homer in the first inning and then added a double later on, Ashlyn Barnes added two hits with a double and two RBIs, and Carlie Henderson was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Cassie Henderson and Tori Roper also drove in runs.
Torri Gaddis was just as dominant on the mound as her offense was at the plate. She pitched the shortened complete game for the win, going four innings and giving up just one hit while striking out one.
Kayla Watson followed up that lights-out start with one of her own in Game 2 also going four innings for the shortened complete-game win, allowing three hits and striking out two.
“I tell both of them to go out there and pitch with confidence and do the best they can,” said Smith. “They were great once again today like they have been all season. They have a good defense behind them so even if the other team puts it in play, the defense is there to support them. Plus, if our offense gives them that kind of run support, they should feel really good out there in the circle with no pressure.”
Many of the same names made their way to the stat sheet offensively in Game 2 for Calhoun, including Johns who went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored, Brzozoski with two more hits and an RBI and Cassie Henderson with a hit and an RBI. Audrey Wilbanks drove in two runs, Chloe Rice had two hits, including a double, and Erin Barnes also had a double.
The Lady Jackets also got a boost by the return of starting first baseman Maddie Bumgardner in Game 2. The junior has missed the last few weeks with an illness but looked sharp in her return as she crushed a three-run homer and drove in another run on a sac fly for a total of four RBIs in the clinching win.
“We’re very happy to have her back,” said Smith. “We’ve really missed her. Having her bat and defense back is big, but her enthusiasm in the dugout is important too.”
Tallying the only hit in Game 1 for North Murray, who finish the season at 9-17, was Makayla Ridley, and McKinly Fields, Avery McCamy and Tisha Sexton had hits in Game 2.
Smith said despite her team clinching a State berth with the win, they have their sights set on bigger goals.
“We haven’t really even thought about clinching a trip to the state tournament,” said Smith. “We expect to be there. And we expect to win from here on out. It doesn’t matter who it is in front of us, we’re ready for them.”
In other recent prep softball action:
Gordon Central 11, Model 3
The Lady Warriors ended the regular season on a high note on Wednesday with a convincing region win.
Gordon Central had four players with multiple hits, including Morgan Frank who had a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Destiny Parker added a double among her two hits and drove in two runs, and Cara Crump had a double among two hits as well with two runs scored. Montana Slaughter also had two hits and scored three runs. Sam Jordan drove in two runs, and Savannah Roberts, Cailey Martin and Sidney Taylor all had one RBI apiece.
Frank also earned the win on the mound, going five innings for the shortened complete game and giving up three runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out six.
The Lady Warriors will open up the Region 7-AA Tournament on Saturday at Alto Park in Rome.