Chamblee’s Savannah Russell and her teammates are heading to the Sweet 16 of the Class 5A state playoffs following a sweep of Cass. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The No. 6 ranked Chamblee Lady Bulldogs swept a doubleheader from the Cass Colonels on Tuesday at Chamblee to advance to the Class 5A State Playoffs Sweet 16 round next week.
Chamblee is the only DeKalb team to advance and advances to the Sweet 16 for the first time since the 2018 season.
The Lady Bulldogs won the opening game against Cass 7-3 with some big hitting and the solid pitching of Lily McCord. Back-to-back home runs by Margaret Axelson and Kate Sarago helped the Bulldogs overcome a three-run fourth by the Colonels keyed by a home run by Ansley Hight.
McCord went seven inning scattering nine hits, striking out seven and walking three to get the win. Axelson finished 2-3 at the plate with three RBI with Emily Katz 2-3 and Shea Parker 2-4, both added an RBI.
Axelson went to the mound in the second game and with the defense going errorless in the game scattered six hits by the Colonels, struck out seven and walked just one in the complete game win. Kate Sarago drove in both runs for the Bulldogs and Shea Parker was 3-3 with a double and a run scored.
The Bulldogs look to move into the state tournament for the first time as they take on Coffee (15-13), the No. 3 seed out of Region 1-5A. Coffee defeated Region 3-5A No. 2 seed Mundy’s Mill 12-0, 17-2 on Tuesday to advance.
The doubleheader part of the Sweet 16 best-of-three series is set for 2:00 and 4:00 pm on Tuesday (Oct. 19) at Chamblee. A third game is necessary would be played on Wednesday at 4:00 pm at Chamblee.
Woodstock sweeps Dunwoody
The Woodstock Wolverines behind the pitching of Molly Wiggins (26 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings) swept a Class 7A first round series two games to none against the host Dunwoody Wildcats on Wednesday by scores of 8-0 and 3-2 (in nine innings).
With their backs against the wall, the Wildcats (14-12) fought hard in a tough 3-2 loss in nine innings in the nightcap to have their season come to an end.
Woodstock (15-9) picked up single runs in the first and second innings on a RBI single by Molly Wiggins and a sacrifice fly by Abby Gillis to go up 2-0.
Dunwoody answered in the third with back-to-back RBI singles by Jaida McCord and Molly Kotzin to knot the game 2-2 off Woodstock starter Gracie Menard before Wiggins went back to the mound to get a pop up and a strikeout to get out of the inning.
Dunwoody shortstop Ryan Boaz on the move for a ground ball during state playoff action against Woodstrock. The Wildcats fell 3-2 in nine innings in the decisive second game at Dunwoody on Wednesday. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Lindsay Parkes would go on to pitch six scoreless innings including three three-up and three-down frames. Woodstock threatened to break the tie in the bottom of the fifth when the first two batters reached on balls hit up the middle and tipping off Sparkes glove. Sparkes bounced back to get three consecutive fly balls to get out of the inning.
Dunwoody’s Anna Hiler hit a deep fly ball to right-center field that the Woodstock right fielder could not quite pull in to put a runner on with one out against Wiggins. Wiggins answered with her 15th and 16th strikeout of the second game to avoid a run.
Woodstock’s Madison Carrothers doubled to right-center to lead off the bottom of the ninth and the Wolverines were threatening. Carrothers reached third just ahead of throw on ball hit by Brooklyn McNeese and Dunwoody intentionally walked Gillis to load the bases with no outs. An infield grounder set up play at the plate, but the throw was low and Carrothers scored the winning run.
Wiggins struck out 10 Wildcats in a complete game no-hitter win in the 8-0 opening win. Dunwoody’s Abby Hughes was the only batter to reach base as she collected a walk in the bottom of the third inning. Alyssa Kendal gave Wiggins the only runs she would need in the game with a two-run single in the second inning. Kacie Wiggins added a three-run homer in the third.
Lakeside catcher Willow Deery pulls down a high pitch during Class 6A state playoff play against South Effingham. Lakeside fell 2-0 in the best-of-three series. (Photo by Mark Brock)
South Effingham sweeps Lakeside
The South Effingham Mustangs pitching staff limited the Lakeside Vikings to just three hits in a Class 6A State Playoffs doubleheader sweep at Lakeside on Tuesday.
Opening game pitcher Bailey Kendziorski pitched a three-inning perfect game in a 14-0 victory. Kendziorski did not allow a base runner and struck out eight in the game. Chloe Turner had a two-run homer to key a five-run first inning for the Mustangs and Kendziorski took it from there.
Katey Stone’s RBI single in the bottom of the first would be all the Mustang’s staff led by Haylee Johnson would need to get an 8-0 win to take the series 2-0.
Lakeside’s Willow Deery got the Vikings’ first hit with a bunt single in the top of the third inning. A double play by the Mustangs ended the threat by Lakeside (13-8).
Trailing 6-0 in the top of the sixth, Lakeside’s Sibley Durisch and Sophia Gallo had back-to-back hits, but South Effingham worked out of the jam. South Effingham picked up two runs in the bottom of the inning to close out the series.
In other Class 6A state playoff action, the Tucker Tigers (8-14) fell 8-0 and 11-0 to Richmond Hill (12-7) to wrap up their 2021 season.
Other Playoff Results
Class 4A
Arabia Mountain (10-5) hosted Jefferson (15-9) in Class 4A first round action on Tuesday. The Rams dropped 16-4 and 12-4 decisions to Jefferson to conclude the season.
Druid Hills had to go on the road to Madison County and fell 2-0 in the best-of-three series with losses of 13-0 and 22-2.
Class 3A
The Cedar Grove Saints traveled to East Forsyth (22-5) in Class 3A first round play on Wednesday and dropped a pair of games (15-1, 20-3) to wrap up their 2021 season.
DCSD SOFTBALL STATE PLAYOFFS RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, Oct. 12
CLASS 6A (Doubleheader)
South Effingham (23-4) 14, at Lakeside (13-8) 0
South Effingham (23-4) 8, at Lakeside (13-8) 0
South Effingham wins best-of-three 2-0.
Richmond Hill (12-7) 8, Tucker (8-14) 0
Richmond Hill (12-7) 11, Tucker (8-14) 0
Richmond Hill wins best-of-three 2-0.
CLASS 5A (Doubleheader)
Chamblee (27-2) 7, Cass (11-13) 3
Chamblee (27-2) 2, Cass (11-13) 1
Chamblee wins best-of-three 2-0.
CLASS 4A (Doubleheader)
Jefferson (15-9) 16, Arabia Mountain (10-5) 4
Jefferson (15-9) 12, Arabia Mountain (10-5) 4
Jefferson wins best-of-three 2-0.
Madison County (19-7) 13, Druid Hills 0
Madison County (19-7) 22, Druid Hills 2
Madison Co. wins best-of-three 2-0.
Wednesday, Oct. 13
CLASS 7A (Doubleheader)
Woodstock (12-9) 8, Dunwoody (14-12) 0
Woodstock (12-9) 3, Dunwoody (14-12) 2 (9 innings)
Woodstock wins best-of-three 2-0.
CLASS 3A (Doubleheader)
East Forsyth (22-5) 15, Cedar Grove (8-9) 1
East Forsyth (22-5) 20, Cedar Grove (8-9) 3
East Forsyth wins best-of-three 2-0.
DCSD SOFTBALL STATE PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
SWEET 16
Tuesday, Oct. 19
CLASS 5A (Doubleheader)
Coffee (15-13) at Chamblee (27-2), 2:00 pm/4:00 pm
Wednesday, Oct. 20
CLASS 5A (If Necessary)
Coffee (15-13) at Chamblee (27-2), 4:00 pm