Lady Ramblers draw Stephens County in state softball opener

It might not be the region championship they had envisioned, but for the LaFayette Lady Ramblers, the consolation prize isn’t too bad.

LaFayette (16-14) will be the No. 3 seed out of Region 6-4A after knocking off Heritage, two games to one, in their best-of-three series last week.

Up next for the Lady Ramblers is a Class 4A state playoff opening round series at Stephens County, the No. 2 seed from Region 8.

That series is slated to begin with a doubleheader on Wednesday with a third game, if needed, to be played on Thursday.

“(Stephens County) is the furthest away we could go, but that’s alright,” LaFayette head coach Glen Woodward added. “We’re just glad we’re in (the state playoffs). It’s going to be a nice bus ride down there. We’ll have a good time on the way, hopefully make a good showing and maybe just advance to the second round.”

Heritage 7, LaFayette 0

Taelyn Bates picked up the victory for the homestanding Generals in the opener as she allowed just six singles in the game, all by six different LaFayette hitters.

Madison Pettigrew took the loss for the Lady Ramblers. She shut down Heritage through four innings before giving up a solo run in the fifth. The Generals broke it open in the sixth as they scored six times.

Pettigrew allowed 10 hits, six walks and seven earned runs in six innings of work. She had just one strikeout.

LaFayette 5, Heritage 2

Sophomore Ashton Stalling got the call to pitch in Game 2 and found herself trailing 2-0 after three-and-ahalf innings. But LaFayette, playing as the home team in the second game, scratched out a run in the bottom of the fourth and four in the fifth to help her to the victory.

A single and an error set the table for LaFayette in the fifth before Madison Harris plated two with a two-run double. Stalling and Jada Allmon later came through with RBI-hits to add to the lead.

Stalling gave up 10 hits, but just the two earned runs as she struck out two and walked none in the win. Madison Morris worked into the fifth, but took the loss.

Stalling also helped herself by going 3 for 3 at the plate. Allmon had two hits and drove in a pair of runs, while Marquilla Howell was 2 for 4. Pettigrew had a double and drew two walks.

LaFayette 2, Heritage 1

Pettigrew was sparkling for LaFayette in Game 3 as she gave up just three hits on the day and shut down the Generals for the first six innings before Heritage finally pushed home a run in the bottom of the seventh.

The Generals (20-12) made things very interesting in their final at-bat as they had the potential tying and winning runs on base with one out.

But McKenzie Hogue would field a sharp grounder at third base, step on the bag and fire across the diamond to first baseman Katie Cook to complete the game-ending 5-3 double play.

Pettigrew struck out two and walked just one to get the victory.

LaFayette got its first run in the top of the second as Stalling doubled to leftcenter and came home as Heritage dropped a fly ball off the bat of Allmon.

The Lady Ramblers would scratch out what became a valuable insurance run in the fifth as Harris singled in Allmon, who made a great slide at home to avoid a tag.

Morris was saddled with the loss for Heritage, allowing six hits with one walk and six strikeouts.

Harris went 2 for 3 for LaFayette and was the only player in the game with multiple hits.