Southeast can’t claw back

Published 9:00 pm Monday, August 29, 2016

Southeast Whitfield High School’s softball team got off to a rough start Monday against visiting Dade County by spotting the Lady Wolverines four runs over the first two innings. Although the Lady Raiders held them in check the rest of the game, they couldn’t scratch across enough runs to get over the hill, losing 5-2.

Down 4-0 in the bottom of the second, Southeast (2-11) got on the board when Lily Phillips doubled home a run. Phillips scored on a base hit from Madison Pearson to cut the lead in half. But that was the extent of the Lady Raiders offense.

Pearson and Jaycee Chastain had two-hit days and Lindsey Shelton added a double.

Jordan Burns took the loss. Ryleigh Murray pitched solid in relief, surrendering one unearned run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings. She struck out four.

• Northwest Whitfield 7, Ringgold 6: After giving up a five-run lead by allowing six runs in the top of the sixth, the Lady Bruins came back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh for the win, improving to 10-2 on the season. KayLeigh Fitzgerald tied the game in the seventh with a RBI single to centerfield, then Molly Middleton singled home Jolene Gale for the walk-off victory.

Middleton finished 4 for 4 with a RBI and Fitzgerald was 2 for 3 with three RBIs. Alyssa Ward also had two hits, while Gale, Kylee Ward and Peyton Tudor each added RBIs.

Caitie Parsons pitched 5 1/3 innings for the Lady Bruins and allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits and three walks with one strikeout. Cara Rann came on to pitch the final 1 1/3 innings and picked up the win while allowing two unearned runs on one hit with one strikeout.

• Murray County 6, Fannin County 3: After trailing most of the game, Murray County rallied with a run in the sixth and four in the seventh for the win.

Bailey Smith tripled in a run and Lindsey Adams doubled one home for the Lady Indians. Gracie Fenwick, Maddie Jenkins and Makayley Sanford all had RBI hits. Attie Ridley walked twice and brought in a run.

Also for Murray County (4-6), Ali Ausmus had three hits with a triple and two stolen bases. Allison Weaver singled, tripled and scored twice.

Sanford got the win in relief throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

• River Ridge 3, Dalton 2: The Lady Cats fell to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in Region 6-6A. All three River Ridge runs were unearned, scored off of four Dalton errors.

River Ridge led 2-1 going into the seventh and added one insurance run in the top half, which became extremely important after Alli Swinford homered for Dalton in the bottom, cutting into the Lady Knights’ lead. River Ridge held on for the win.

Swinford pitched seven innings and gave up the three runs on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts. Olivia Whaley led off the third with a double and courtesy runner Haley Ledwell scored on a RBI double by Lauren Parker. River Ridge scored two runs in the top of the third.

JV FOOTBALL

• Dalton 28, McCallie 21: The Cats improved to 1-1 on the season. Chandler Starks had two touchdowns, one through the air to Gavin Defour and one on the ground, while Ty Love and Jai’den Montgomery scored rushing touchdowns.

• Southeast 36, Gordon Central 0: The Raiders won their season opener on the road. Denzel Allen scored a pair of touchdowns, from 4 and 6 yards out. Sammy Soto had a 36-yard touchdown run and Junior Trujillo ran one in from 5 yards out. Austin Davis returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown. Allen ran in a pair of two-point conversions and David Wilcox also ran one in.

On defense, William Sullivan recovered a fumble and Caleb Smith recorded three sacks.