Indians Win In Sweet 16

The Vidalia High School softball Indians are into the Elite 8 after defeating Jefferson County at home last week. It was a best-of-three series with VHS sweeping the Warriors to advance.

Game 1

The Indians picked up a run in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead on the Warriors. In the second inning Madison Starr scored on a groundout by Rileigh Robinson, and Janiya Bobbitt came in on a single by Ashtyn Braddy. Bailey Holland walked to load the bases, but a groundout ended the threat with VHS then up 3- 0. Holland was in the circle for the Indians and kept the Warriors off the board again in the top of the third inning. In the bottom half of the frame Starr had an RBI single to put the Indians up 4-0. Robinson brought in a run on a fielder's choice for a 5-0 lead. Braddy got a hit and then stole second. One more run came in on a single by Emma Humphrey as the Indians took a 6-0 lead into the fourth inning. Jefferson did get a runner on base in the top of the fourth inning, but two big strikeouts by Holland sent the game to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the fourth Tori Wright scored on a hit by Tymber Harris. Harris scored on an infield single by Starr to put VHS up 8-0. Bobbitt was hit by a pitch, but a groundout sent the game to the top of the fifth with VHS up 8-0. The Indians closed out the game with a couple more strikeouts by Holland to win Game 1 by the run rule, 8-0. Holland got the win in the circle.

Game 2

In the second game the Indians were the visitors and went to bat in the top of the first inning. Braddy led off with a walk, Holland walked and Wright was hit by a pitch to load the bases. But a groundout and a pop out, and the threat was ended.

Starr was pitching the second game for the Indians and kept the Warriors off the board in the bottom of the first inning. In the second Starr led off with a single with Logan Menard coming in to run for her. Menard stole second and then a walk by Robinson. A walk to Braddy loaded the bases with just one out, but a strikeout kept the Indians off the board.

In the top of the third inning Wright led off with a double, but VHS couldn't string the hits together and through three innings the Indians had left seven runners on base.

In the bottom of the third inning the Warriors loaded the bases with just one out, but Starr got two pop outs to leave the bases loaded and go to the fourth inning. In the fourth VHS again couldn't put it together as they were held scoreless. Holland led off the fifth with a double. Taufmann got a hit to put runners at the corners. Harris walked to load the bases, but this time VHS came through with Lydia Smith walking to bring in a run and put VHS up 1-0. Robinson hit a ball to deep center that was dropped, which cleared the bases to put VHS up 4-0.

In the top of the sixth inning Wright got things going with a double, and moved to third on a passed ball. Treyunna Roundtree came in to run for Wright, and she scored on a wild pitch to put VHS up 5-0. Taufmann got a double, and then a single by Lydia Smith brought in a two runs for a 7-0 lead.

Jefferson did get a run across in the bottom of the fifth inning, but VHS added another run on a bases loaded sacrifice fly by Wright, and then Humphrey scored on a single by Starr as VHS led 10-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Indians brought in Harris to close out the game in the circle, and she struck out the first two batters. She walked the next and then a shot to the fence scored a run, but the Indians threw out the runner as she tried to stretch the double into a triple, which ended the game with VHS winning 10-2.

With the win the Indians moved to the Elite 8, which would normally mean heading off to Columbus for the double elimination tournament. But this year with COVID they have one more round of best-of-three series, and again were at home. On Tuesday of this week after presstime that series kicked off against Banks County, the #1 seed out of Region 8. If necessary they will play a Game 3 on Wednesday. The winner of that series will then move on to what will be the Final 4 Tournament in Columbus on Friday and Saturday of this week.

Logan Menard at second base for VHS throws a ball over to first during the first game of the best-of-three series with Jefferson County.Photo by Mike Branch