Class AA’s second-ranked Union County softball team defeated Fannin County 10-2 in five innings on Thursday to finish the regular season 21-1-1 and 10-0 in Region 8A-AA.
Angie Hughes earned the win in the circle with nine strikeouts, while Whitney Kelley went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs to lead the Lady Panthers.
Kaitlyn Seabolt went 2-for-3, Tori Dyer went 3-for-4 with an RBI, Callie Dyer went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Shawnna Brown went 1-for-1 with two RBIs for Union County, which opens play in the Region 8-AA tournament Thursday.
BUFORD 17, THERRELL 0 (THREE INNINGS): The Lady Wolves opened play in the Region 6-AA tournament with a win Thursday in Buford.
Melissa Dickie threw a complete game, striking out nine, while going 2-for-2 with two doubles and three RBIs for Buford (21-4, 4-0 Region 6-AA). Karly Fullem went 2-for-2 with a double and four RBIs, Codi Ricketson went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs and Lexi Overstreet had a hit and two RBIs for the Lady Wolves, who play Westminster at 9 a.m. Saturday at Lovett in the second round of the tournament.
Volleyball
NORTH HALL SPLITS AT BUFORD: The Lady Trojans defeated Johnson (25-9, 26-24) and lost to Buford (15-25, 18-25) on Thursday in Buford.
Kathryn Bell had 10 assists, two digs and a kill and Lauren Gregory had three kills, 11 digs and two blocks on the day for North Hall (22-10, 9-0 Area 8-AAA). McKenna Rushton had four kills and two blocks and Megan Cox added 15 digs for Class AAA’s No. 10-ranked Lady Trojans, who play host to Flowery Branch at 5 p.m. Monday.
In the other match of the day, Buford defeated Johnson 25-9, 25-9. Maggie Roper had 15 kills and 10 digs, Jenna Falletta had 17 assists and 10 digs, Liz Darden had 26 digs and Bailey Hicks had 14 assists for Buford (36-7, 5-1 Area 6-A/AA), which opens play in the Region 6-AA tournament at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
For Johnson (16-17, 6-3 Area 8-AAA), Caitlin Sloan had eight kills on the day. Savannah Turk had seven digs and Brittany Panter had three aces against North Hall and Kellsie Brisbois had five digs and Christian Petit had two kills against Buford. Johnson visit North Hall for a playdate with Oconee County at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
GAINESVILLE TOPS LUMPKIN COUNTY: Carmen Rae Torrey had seven aces and six assists, while Anna Walker had 11 aces, 12 kills and seven digs to lead the Lady Red Elephants to the 25-18, 25-19, 25-17 win in Dahlonega.
Daphne Ragone added eight aces and 11 assists for Gainesville (7-14, 1-7 Area 8-AAA), which visits Chestatee at 5 p.m. Monday.
JEFFERSON SPLITS AT HOME: The Lady Dragons defeated East Jackson (25-11, 25-17) and lost to Class A/AA’s No. 8 Hebron Christian (23-25, 24-26) on Thursday in Jefferson.
Taylor Cramsey had 15 kills and a block, Amanda Daniel had two aces, five kills and 26 assists, and Eden Starnes had three aces and 11 kills for Jefferson (31-8, 12-0 Area 8-A/AA).
Cassie Metcalf added eight aces and six kills, Sarah Wood had four aces, two kills and three assists and Savannah Holland had five kills and two blocks for the Lady Dragons, who open play in the Region 8-AA tournament at 6 p.m. Tuesday at North Oconee. Jefferson will have a bye in the first round.
FLOWERY BRANCH WINS AT HERITAGE: Alexis Love had six kills, Kathryn McMillin had five kills, Becky Benton had three kills and Brittani Hill had 13 assists as the Lady Falcons won in three games Thursday.
Flowery Branch (17-8, 9-1 Area 8-AAAA) visits North Hall at 5 p.m. Monday.
WEST HALL SPLITS AT MADISON COUNTY: The Lady Spartans defeated Madison County (25-10, 25-14) and lost to Clarke Central (25-23, 18-25, 21-25) on Thursday.
Nicolette Ashley had 28 digs and three aces and Laykin Herford had 24 assists and five aces to lead West Hall (20-14, 3-4 Area 8-AAA). LeNiesha Kearse had 11 kills and Tonya Bennett had five kills and five blocks for the Lady Spartans, who play host to Gainesville and Walnut Grove at 5 p.m. Tuesday.