VHS Softball Into Elite 8
The Vidalia High School softball team will again be moving on to take part in the State AA Tournament in Columbus after sweeping Elbert County at home last Tuesday in the second round of the playoffs. The Indians improved their record to 28-5 on the season and enter the Elite 8 Tournament as the #1 seed in the State.
Game 1
In the first game of the best-of-three series Bailey Holland had another great game in the circle as she struck out eight batters without giving up a run.
In the bottom of the first inning Tori Wright led off with a single, and then stole second. Emma Humphrey walked to put two runners on base and then a rip up the middle by Rileigh Robinson scored Wright to put VHS up 1-0. VHS then continued from page
loaded up the bases on a single by Jesslyn Collins, but a strikeout ended the VHS threat.
In the bottom of the second inning Madison Starr got a one-out walk and was moved to second on a fielder's choice by Wright. Holland followed that with a rip through the right side that drove in Starr for a 2-0 VHS lead.
In the bottom of the frame Robinson hit a shot to the left-field fence, but VHS couldn't put anything together. But in the bottom of the fourth inning VHS got the bats going. Emma Vinson led off with a single. After a fielder's choice by Wright, Holland hit a bloop single to put runners at the corners for VHS. Humphrey got a hit up the middle for a 3-0 lead, and then Robinson walked to load the bases. Alli Taufmann went up the middle to drive in two runs for a 5-0 lead and Collins drove in Robinson for a 6-0 VHS lead.
That was all VHS needed as Holland did her job and closed out the game. Elbert got their first and only hit of the game in the top of the sixth inning on a bunt single. VHS held in the sixth and seventh to win, 6-0, over Elbert in the first game of the series.
Game 2
In the top of the first inning with VHS, the visiting team in the second game, Holland hit a fly ball with two outfielders colliding on the play. Holland went all the way to third. But VHS wasn't able to hit her in. Tymber Harris was the pitcher in the second game for VHS. Elbert County put a runner on third base in the bottom of the second inning, but VHS did not allow her to score. In the top of the third inning Vidalia put two runs on the board. Wright reached base, and was follwed by Holland with a hit that brought in Wright for a 1-0 lead. Taufmann drove in Holland for a 2-0 VHS lead.
VHS did load the bases in the top of the fourth inning, but they didn't add to their lead until the top of the sixth inning. Lydia Smith hit a double with a runner already on base to put runners at second and third. Wright walked to load the bases, and then Holland hit a three-run double to the fence in rightcenter to put VHS on top 5- 0.
VHS needed all of those runs as the game took a turn in the bottom of the seventh inning. Elbert strung together several base hits as they closed the lead to 5-3. Holland came in to relieve Harris with two outs. A line drive closed it to 5-4, and Elbert had the tying run on second base. But a strikeout ended the game with VHS winning 5-4.
Harris got the win, and recorded eight strikeouts in the game. Holland had three RBI's to lead VHS, and Smith added three hits in the game.
VHS will start their run in Columbus on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. against Bremen. If they win that game, they will play again that evening at 7:00 p.m. against the winner of the Dade County vs. Union County game. If VHS loses that first game, they will play at 10:00 a.m. on Friday against the loser of the Dade County vs. Union County game.
