Heritage cruises past Chestatee, Central-carroll up next

The No. 7-ranked Heritage Generals breezed into the second round of the Class 4A state softball tournament as they swept visiting and overmatched Chestatee, 11-0 and 16-0, last Tuesday afternoon in Boynton.

In the opener, the Generals recorded 10 hits, including a two-run, inside-thepark homerun by starting pitcher Rachel Gibson. Reagan Armour was 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIS and two runs scored, while Katie Proctor was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs driven in.

Carmen Gayler was 2-for-3 with a double, while Zoe Wright and Madeline Stone also doubled in the victory. Riley Kokinda chipped in with one RBI.

Gibson walked just one batter and struck out 13 in the five-inning no-hitter.

In the nightcap, Heritage - playing as the visiting team - rapped out 15 hits, including four off the bat of Kokinda, who scored three times and drove in one run. Gayler had three hits - two doubles and one triple - to go with four RBIS and two runs scored.

Armour and Gibson each went 2-for-3 with a double and a triple. Armour drove in four and scored three times, while Gibson knocked in a pair of runs. Proctor and Mallory Lowe each had a double and picked up two RBIS.

Gibson threw the first three innings, striking out six and not allowing a hit. Freshman Brinley Horner threw the last inning. She allowed two hits and one walk with one strikeout.

Heritage (20-6) will host No. 4-ranked Central-carroll in the second round this week.

The Lady Lions got a scare from Stephens County, dropping the first game of the series, 5-2, but bouncing back with 8-6 and 4-2 victories to win the series and advance to the next round.

The second-round, best-ofthree series is scheduled to start on Wednesday with the winner advancing to Columbus for the Elite Eight.