Indians Win In Extra Innings Over Yellow Jackets

It was a busy week for the Vidalia High School softball team as they played four games. Two of those games were Region contests against Jeff Davis at home on Wednesday and against Swainsboro at home on Thursday. They then traveled to Southeast Bulloch to take on the host team and South Effingham, which is one of the only two teams to have defeated them this season. Vidalia won three of those four games, losing again to South Effingham, which is ranked #2 in 6A, but just by one run.

VHS vs. Jeff Davis

The game against Jeff Davis was one for the books, and a pitching dual between Vidalia's Bailey Holland and Jeff Davis's Kelsey Parlor. Not a single run was scored over the first eight innings of the game before some ninth inning heroics got the Indians the win.

Not a runner was allowed on base by either of the pitchers over the first two innings of the game, but in the bottom of the third inning Lydia Smith reached base for VHS. A wild pitch moved her to second, but a base running error and she was thrown out at third on a ball hit by Rileigh Robinson. Robinson stole second, but a fly out moved the game to the fourth inning.

Holland kept the Yellow Jackets off base in the fourth inning, and VHS again had a couple of runners in the bottom of the fourth inning, but couldn't get the big hits.

In the fifth inning Tymber Harris had a lead off single, but Parlor shut VHS down and didn't allow her to work around the bases.

In the top of the sixth inning Jeff Davis got their first hit of the game, but Holland did her job and got VHS out of the inning without allowing a run.

Ashtyn Braddy beat out an infield single in the sixth inning, but a double play ended that VHS threat and sent the game to the continued from page

seventh inning still with the score at 0-0.

Jeff Davis got a hit in the top of the seventh inning with two outs, but Holland got a strikeout to end the inning and give VHS a chance to win it in the bottom of the last inning of regulation.

Holland walked to lead off in the bottom of the seventh inning, but a double play ended that inning as well for the Indians and sent the game to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth inning Jeff Davis got a runner on base and moved her over to second with two outs. A shot into the right-center gap was chased down by Alli Taufmann, who made a great catch for the third out and to keep the Yellow Jackets off the scoreboard.

Madison Starr led off the eight with a single, and then a single by Smith put two runners on base for the Indians. Jeff Davis got a force at third to cut down the lead runner. Robinson moved the runners to second and third, and Braddy was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a force at any base. But a pop up to the short stop ended the VHS inning and sent the game to the ninth inning.

In the top of the ninth inning a single and a walk put runners on base, but Holland buckled down and Harris made a great running catch in foul territory to end the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth inning Tori Wright hit a line shot, but right to the first baseman for the first out. Holland came through with a double to right-center to put a runner in scoring position, with Treyunna Roundtree coming in to run for the pitcher. Harris was intentionally walked to set up a force play with Taufmann coming to bat. Taufmann was up next and came through with a shot to the fence in left field to score Roundtree, who came flying around the bases to give the Indians the win in nine innings, 1-0.

Holland got the win in the circle and only allowed four hits with 13 strikeouts. Neither team committed a single error in this very well played game by both teams.

Coach Brad Thompson said, “What a good game. We knocked their pitcher out early the first time we played them, but she came back today and I love to see that type of resilience in a kid. They just played a great game and I have to tip my hat to Jeff Davis.

“We are excited to have Bailey with us this year and to have her coming back next year. She does a great job in the circle and just all around and really become part of our team. I know we aren't going to hit that ball every game, and we played great defense and Alli just came through for us in the end.”

VHS vs. Swainsboro

In the bottom of the first inning Vidalia got hits from Braddy, Emma Humphrey, and Wright, which set up Taufmann at the plate. She walked to bring in the first run, and then Starr blasted a grand slam home run to put the Indians on top 5-0. Starr was in the circle and held in the top of the second inning, and in the bottom half of the frame the Indians got back to work. With a couple runners on base, Taufmann hit an RBI double to make it 6-0, and then an RBI from Starr made it 7-0. In the bottom of the third inning VHS went on a run, scoring nine runs. With the bases loaded and two outs Taufmann had a base clearing hit to make it 10-0. VHS put more runners on and Jaynia Bobbitt had an RBI, a wild pitch brought in Roundtree for a 12-0 lead, RBI single by Ryan Norfleet made the score 13-0, and then Jesslyn Collins ended the game with a three-run home run. That gave VHS the 16-0 run-rule victory over the Tigers.

VHS vs. SE Bulloch

At the Southeast Bulloch Diamond Day on Saturday the Indians started off with the host team and got the bats going early. They ran away with a win, 14-4 by the run-rule. VHS scored five in the first inning with SEB plating three. The Indians added one in the second, three more in the third and one in the fourth to hold a 10-3 lead. The Indians scored four more in the fifth inning to push the lead to 14-3, with SEB adding one in the bottom of the frame as the game ended by the run rule, 14-4.

VHS vs. S. Effingham

The first time these two top ranked teams met was the third game of the season for the Indians, and they lost that game 5-3. They were hoping to get some revenge in this game, but Effingham came out on top in a very good game. Both teams picked up a run in the first inning of the game with Holland getting the RBI hit. The game was a pitching dual between Holland and Bailey Kendziorski of Effingham, with both teams playing solid defense behind their pitchers. The deciding run was scored by Effingham in the top of the seventh inning, giving them the 2-1 win over the Indians. VHS is now 17-3 overall and 8-0 in Region play. This week they played their rival Toombs County on Tuesday after presstime, and will be back in action on Wednesday as they are at West Laurens at 6:00 p.m. They will face off with Jeff Davis at home on Thursday at 5:45 p.m. to wrap up their week.