OAKWOOD — In its first two Region 7-AAA softball games, the potency of West Hall’s offense was evidenced by shortened games.
Going into Tuesday’s matchup with Chestatee, the Lady Spartans (7-2, 3-0 Region 7-AAA) had played a total of eight innings against two region opponents; outscoring them 27-2.
They continued the trend against the Lady War Eagles, winning 8-0 in five innings — their second-longest region game thus far.
“We don’t pat them on the back too often,” said West Hall coach Warren Sellers. “We don’t want them to have a false sense of security.
“We just look forward to the next game and will work as hard as ever in practice tomorrow.”
Sophomore Miranda Miller went the distance in the circle for West Hall, no-hitting the Lady War Eagles and earning seven strikeouts.
“She pitched well,” Sellers said. “It’s great to have depth at pitching and she’s getting stronger every outing and her confidence is getting better.
“She plays beyond her years.”
West Hall scored runs in each of the first three innings, beginning with two in the first.
Senior shortstop Emily Hammond led the bottom of the first off with a single and after advancing to second on a throwing error by Chestatee and stealing third, scored on a wild pitch.
Four batters later, after Bailey Soucie reached on a basehit and Miller on a fielder’s choice, Morgan Strickland hit an RBI double to left, scoring Miller.
“We came out hitting,” Sellers said. “We wanted to get the lead early.”
Chestatee began the second like it had the first, going three up and three down with Miller striking out four of the first six batter she faced.
West Hall, on the other hand, kept the runs coming in the bottom of the second.
After Victoria Tuttle and Hammond reached base, Madison Strickland followed her sister’s lead by hitting a two-run double.
Madison Strickland then came around to score on a single by Soucie making the score 5-0 heading into the third.
The Lady Spartans managed three more runs in the third thanks to a two-run single by Hammond and an RBI grounder by Madison Strickland.
West Hall was led offensively by Hammond who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, Bailey Soucie who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Madison Strickland, who finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs and one runs scored.
“We’ve been hitting a lot in practice and it’s showing,” Sellers said. “And starting to pay off.”
Morgan Strickland, Savannah Simpson and Haley Haynes also had hits for the Lady Spartans.
Chestatee threatened a rally in the fourth when its first two batters, Erin Clifford and Maegan Kenimer, reached on errors.
Miller’s pitching and West Hall’s defense came through, however, with a strikeout and an inning-ending unassisted double play by third baseman Madison Strickland.
Stephanie Ward was the starter for the Lady War Eagles and had two strikeouts. Nicole Long came on in relief in the second inning and also had two strikeouts.
The Lady Spartans return to action at 5:55 p.m. Thursday at East Hall, while Chestatee next plays at 5:55 p.m. Thursday at Lambert.
Going into Tuesday’s matchup with Chestatee, the Lady Spartans (7-2, 3-0 Region 7-AAA) had played a total of eight innings against two region opponents; outscoring them 27-2.
They continued the trend against the Lady War Eagles, winning 8-0 in five innings — their second-longest region game thus far.
“We don’t pat them on the back too often,” said West Hall coach Warren Sellers. “We don’t want them to have a false sense of security.
“We just look forward to the next game and will work as hard as ever in practice tomorrow.”
Sophomore Miranda Miller went the distance in the circle for West Hall, no-hitting the Lady War Eagles and earning seven strikeouts.
“She pitched well,” Sellers said. “It’s great to have depth at pitching and she’s getting stronger every outing and her confidence is getting better.
“She plays beyond her years.”
West Hall scored runs in each of the first three innings, beginning with two in the first.
Senior shortstop Emily Hammond led the bottom of the first off with a single and after advancing to second on a throwing error by Chestatee and stealing third, scored on a wild pitch.
Four batters later, after Bailey Soucie reached on a basehit and Miller on a fielder’s choice, Morgan Strickland hit an RBI double to left, scoring Miller.
“We came out hitting,” Sellers said. “We wanted to get the lead early.”
Chestatee began the second like it had the first, going three up and three down with Miller striking out four of the first six batter she faced.
West Hall, on the other hand, kept the runs coming in the bottom of the second.
After Victoria Tuttle and Hammond reached base, Madison Strickland followed her sister’s lead by hitting a two-run double.
Madison Strickland then came around to score on a single by Soucie making the score 5-0 heading into the third.
The Lady Spartans managed three more runs in the third thanks to a two-run single by Hammond and an RBI grounder by Madison Strickland.
West Hall was led offensively by Hammond who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, Bailey Soucie who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Madison Strickland, who finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs and one runs scored.
“We’ve been hitting a lot in practice and it’s showing,” Sellers said. “And starting to pay off.”
Morgan Strickland, Savannah Simpson and Haley Haynes also had hits for the Lady Spartans.
Chestatee threatened a rally in the fourth when its first two batters, Erin Clifford and Maegan Kenimer, reached on errors.
Miller’s pitching and West Hall’s defense came through, however, with a strikeout and an inning-ending unassisted double play by third baseman Madison Strickland.
Stephanie Ward was the starter for the Lady War Eagles and had two strikeouts. Nicole Long came on in relief in the second inning and also had two strikeouts.
The Lady Spartans return to action at 5:55 p.m. Thursday at East Hall, while Chestatee next plays at 5:55 p.m. Thursday at Lambert.