Heritage topples top-ranked Northwest from ranks of unbeatens

Just like the dugout chant suggested, it was lucky seven for Heritage and the Generals made it fly.

Heritage used a pair of homeruns to put up seven runs in the top of the third inning and the No. 7-ranked Generals stayed unbeaten in Region 6-AAAA play by handing the No. 1-ranked Northwest Whitfield Lady Bruins their first loss of the season last Tuesday night in Tunnel Hill, 10-3.

Northwest pushed home two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Heritage pitcher Rachel Gibson fought through some uncharacteristic wildness as she hit one batter and walked four more, two with the bases loaded.

However, she would settle down significantly the rest of the way. The junior allowed just one more run in the game and scattered six hits. The four free passes she gave up in the second inning were her only walks of the night and she finished with 11 strikeouts.

The big inning begin with a one-out single by Savannah Wilson and a double by Bailey Christol before Zoe Wright was hit with a pitch to load the bases. Following a pitching change, Riley Kokinda delivered an RBI-single and Christol would later score on an error.

That brought the hot-hitting Carmen Gayler to the plate, who promptly launched a three-run homer to centerfield. Then, after Bailey Davis was hit with a pitch, Gibson got her two runs back by blasting a homerun of her own to make it 7-2.

Wright would score on an error in the top of the fourth and the Generals would add two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh as Wilson and Christol drew backto-back bases-loaded walks.

Gayler went 3-for-3 and also added a double, while Christol had two doubles on the night. Sarah Haynes was 2-for-4 and Gibson also drew a pair of walks to reach base three times.

Gibson tossed a five-inning no-hitter with 12 strikeouts as the Generals (9-3, 5-0) blanked visiting Gilmer Thursday night in Boynton.

Gibson fanned the first six batters in order and had at least two strikeouts in every inning. Only one Gilmer hitter reached base, that coming on a fifth-inning error.

Christol was 3-for-4 with a pair of triples and two RBIs. Kokinda doubled in all three plate appearances and also finished with two RBIs. Gayler had an RBI-triple. Wright and Madeline Stone both had two hits each, including one double. Jessica Gibson also came through with an RBI-double, while Stone was credited with one RBI.