Jasper, Ga — The AAAA State Softball Tournament began on Wednesday, October 14th as teams around the state began their journey to Columbus. The Pickens Dragonettes, came in as the #8 seed having won the 6-AAAA region title. They welcomed their region foe and 25th seeded Dawson Lady Tigers to Dunn Field for a doubleheader. The Nettes, swept the three regular season match ups against the Lady Tigers. The Nettes, would take both games of the doubleheader by scores of 2-0 and 12-6.

Game One:

The Nettes, had Junior Clemson commit Kendra Stewart on the mound for game one. E. Frix, would lead off the game with a single for the Lady Tigers, After a strikeout, Frix would move up to 2nd after a ground out. Stewart, would get out of the first with another ground out to send it to the bottom of the frame. Lady Tigers starter Charlie Wohlford, would pick up the first two outs of the frame before a 2-out double by Stewart. Wohlford, would get a fly out to send it to the second with the score tied at 0.

Calli Edwards, would reach on an error to begin the top of the second. After a strikeout, Edwards, would advance to 2nd after a ground out. Stewart, would pick up her second strikeout of the inning to send it to the bottom of the inning. Wohlford, would pick up a quick pop out and strikeout to begin the bottom of the second. Zyla Morgan, would keep the inning alive with a single.

Morgan, would then steal 2nd and 3rd as the Nettes had a runner in scoring position. An RBI single by Kennedi Starks, would bring in Morgan to make it 1-0 Nettes heading to the top of the third.

In the top of the third, Stewart, would force a pop out and pick up a pair of strikeouts in a 1-2-3 frame. In the bottom of the inning, Carleigh Rau, would reach on an error with 1-out. After a fly out, Stewart, would draw a four pitch walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Wohlford, would force a ground out to send it to the fourth with the Nettes still leading the Lady Tigers, 1-0.

Stewart, would throw her second straight 1-2-3 inning as she picked up a strikeout and a pair of ground outs in a scoreless top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, Brylee Johnson and Caitlyn Hudgins would reach with back to back singles. Wohlford, would get out of the jam with a strikeout and a double play to keep the score at 1-0 heading to the fifth.

Stewart, would start the top of the fifth with back to back strikeouts. She would then force a pop out to send it to the bottom of the inning. Wohlford, who very much matched Stewart throughout the game, picked up a pair of ground outs and a pop out in a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth. Heading to the sixth, the Nettes still led it, 1-0.

Stewart, would continue rolling in the top of the sixth with a pair of ground outs and a strikeout. Caleigh Hoffard, would reach with a 1-out double in the bottom of the sixth looking to add on to the lead. Add on they did as Johnson would drive in Hoffard with an RBI double to make it 2-0. Johnson, would advance to 3rd on the throw. Johnson, would be left stranded at 3rd as Wohlford picked up a strikeout and a ground out to send it to the seventh.

In the top of the seventh, Stewart, would close out the complete game shut out with a strikeout, a ground out, and a fly out as the Nettes took game one, 2-0.

Game Two:

For game two, the teams would switch sides and it would be the Nettes up to bat in the top of the first. Carleigh Rau, would lead off the game with a single. After a sacrifice bunt by Kylee Bozeman to move Rau up to 2nd, Kendra Stewart, would advance Rau to 3rd on a ground out. Lady Tigers starter Kylee Pulley, would force a pop out to send it to the bottom of the first.

In the bottom of the frame, Stewart, would come back out to start game two after tossing a complete game in game one. After picking up a ground out and a strikeout, Calli Edwards, would keep the inning going with a single. Stewart, would get out of the first with a fly out. Heading to the second, the game was tied at 0.

In the top of the second, Pulley, would toss a 1-2-3 inning with a fly out and a pair of line outs. Stewart, would strikeout the side in the bottom half of the second. Heading to the third, the game was knotted up at 0.

Caitlyn Hudgins, would lead off the top of the third by reaching on a single. After a line out, Rau would reach with her second hit of the game. Bozeman, would then draw a walk to load the bases with 1-out. Stewart, would help herself out by driving in both Hudgins and Rau with a 2-RBI single to make it 2-0 Nettes. Bozeman, would advance to 3rd on the play. Caleigh Hoffard, would bring in both Bozeman and courtesy runner Melodie Taylor with a 2-RBI double to make it 4-0 Nettes.

Brylee Johnson, would move Hoffard up to 3rd on a ground out. Zyla Morgan, would keep the inning going by drawing a walk. Kennedi Starks, would drive in Hoffard to make it 5-0 Nettes heading to the bottom of the inning. Stewart, would carry that momentum over to the bottom of the third as she picked up a pair of strikeouts and a fly out. Heading to the fourth, Pickens led Dawson, 5-0.

Bayleigh Gennaro, would get things going in the top of the fourth by drawing a lead off walk. After two quick outs, Stewart, would drive in Gennaro with an RBI double to make it 6-0 Nettes. The Lady Tigers, would throw out courtesy runner Taylor at the plate trying to score after a single by Hoffard. Heading to the bottom of the fourth, Pickens led Dawson, 6-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Calli Edwards, would reach with a 1-out double. Stewart, would force a pop out and a line out to strand the runner. Heading to the fifth, the Nettes were ahead, 6-0.

Carley Etta Grizzle, who came on in relief of Pulley in the top of the third, would toss a 1-2-3 top of the fifth as she picked up a pair of strikeouts and a fly out. Hudgins, would come on in relief of Stewart in the bottom of the fifth. Aubree Smith, would lead off with a single. After a strikeout and a pop out, Smith would advance to 2nd on a wild pitch. Hudgins, would get out of the fifth with a fly out. Heading to the sixth, Pickens led Dawson, 6-0.

Hudgins, would lead off the top of the sixth by drawing a walk. After a pop out, Hudgins, would then be picked off at 1st for the second out. Back to back singles from Rau and Bozeman, would keep the inning alive. Stewart, would then be intentionally walked to load the bases. Hoffard, would clear the bases with a 3-RBI triple to make it 9-0 Nettes. Lilly Hamilton, would lead off the bottom of the sixth with a single.

Hamilton, would then advance into scoring position on a passed ball. Elizabeth Frix, would then draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Edwards, would reach on an error to load the bases with nobody out. After a strikeout, Haley Jackson, would drive in all three runners with a triple to make it 9-3. Smith, would bring in Jackson with an RBI ground out to make it 9-4. Hudgins, would get out of the sixth with a ground out. The Nettes, led 9-4 heading to the seventh.

Morgan, would lead off the top of the seventh with a double. Morgan, would move up to 3rd after a ground out by Starks. Hudgins, would bring in Morgan with an RBI single to make it 10-4. After a single by Gennaro, Charlie Wohlford, who pitched well for the Lady Tigers in game one, would pick up a fly out for the second out. Bozeman, would keep the inning alive for the Nettes with a 2-out single to load the bases.

Stewart, would drive in both Hudgins and Gennaro with a 2-RBI single to make it 12-4 Nettes heading to the bottom of the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Hannah Walden, would reach with a 1-out single. Hamilton, would follow that with a single of her own to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Frix, would then reach on a fielder’s choice as Walden would be forced out at 3rd. Edwards, would reach on an error that would allow Hamilton to score to make it 12-5.

Kaelyn Utech, would then reach on a three base error which allowed both Frix and Edwards to score to make it 12-7. Hudgins, would force a ground out to end the game as the Nettes pick up the win, 12-7 to sweep the series and advance to the Sweet 16.

The Nettes, will now turn their attention to the #9 seed Fayette County as they get ready for the Sweet 16 on Wednesday, October 21st. Fayette County, swept Shaw in the first round to advance to the Sweet 16. Times for the games have not been announced yet.