Lady Trojans gearing up for annual October post-season run
As if the rest of Region 6-A wasn’t already aware, the Gordon Lee Lady Trojans made a statement last week that the region championship will again go through them.
Gordon Lee, in search of a 15th consecutive region title, won five games last week against three of the region’s upper echelon and did so by a combined score of 39-1.
They also took over the top spot in the GHSA power rankings for the Class A Public School Division. Should they maintain their lead in the power rankings and win the region championship, they would assure themselves of being the top overall seed once the state playoffs start.
Gordon Lee 3, Mt. Zion 0
The Lady Trojans scored twice in the bottom of the third inning and added an insurance run in the top of the fifth to pick up a home win over Mt. ZionCarroll last Monday.
Paxton Grimes went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, while Canaan Burnett was credited with the other RBI. Maddie Clark also had a pair of hits in the win.
Burnett and Emma Minghini combined on a four-hitter. Burnett threw 4.1 innings, allowing three hits and no walks. She had four strikeouts. Meanwhile, Minghini gave up just one hit and no walks in 2.2 innings. She sat down five on strikes.
Gordon Lee 8, Bowdon 0
Playing a neutral site at Chattooga High School in Summerville on Wednesday, Gracey Kruse gave the Lady Trojans all the offense they would need in the top of the first inning, belting a two-run homer, her first of the season. She smashed another two-run shot in the third and was promptly walked her last five trips to the plate in the twinbill.
Kruse finished with the four RBIs, while Minghini was 2-for-2 with an RBI. Grimes was 2-for-3, while she joined Clark and Faith Alexander with one RBI each in the victory.
Burnett started in the circle and pitched just two innings.
Minghini threw the final three innings, finishing with five strikeouts and picking up the win. The duo limited Bowdon to just two hits.
Gordon Lee 7, Bowdon 0
Playing as the home team in the nightcap, the Lady Trojans jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings before tacking on four more in the bottom of the sixth.
Alexander had two hits and two RBIs, while Grimes, Clark and Kirbie Bradley each had an RBI. Kruse drew four walks, while Minghini pitched all seven innings, allowing just three hits and finishing with seven strikeouts.
Seventh-ranked Gordon Lee spotted the Lady Bulldogs a first-inning run in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader, then answered with four runs in the bottom of the first before going on to a fiveinning victory.
Kruse two doubles and three RBIs. Minghini had two hits, while Burnett was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Burnett also got the win, allowing just one earned run on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
In Game 2, Gordon Lee - playing as the visiting team - erupted for nine runs in the top of the first and coasted to the win. The Lady Trojans had just seven hits, all singles, taking advantage of nine walks and three more Trion errors after the Lady Bulldogs committed five in the first game.
Reagan Thompson had two hits and three RBIs, while Kruse also collected two RBIs. Minghini and Janie Durham pitched two innings apiece. Both allowed just two hits and both struck out two.
Gordon Lee entered the new week at 17-3 overall and 6-0 in Region 6-A.
“We’re looking more like ourselves,” head coach Dana Mull said. “I think the urgency is there a little more now and I like what I’m seeing. When they relax and have fun, they can really play some ball. I think we are about where we should be at this point in the season.”
Mull announced that postponement of Sept. 12’s game at King’s Ridge Christian would be made up this Friday, Sept. 29. The Region 6-A tournament is slated to begin on Oct. 4.