Wheeler Girls Head Into Playoffs
The Wheeler County High School Lady Bulldogs softball team split their double-header with the Clinch County Panthers on Monday of last week, and came back with a dominant 12-3 victory over the Hawkinsville Red Devils on Tuesday, ending their regular season with a record of 18-8 overall and 8-2 in Region play. This week the Bulldogs kicked off the postseason with a best-ofthree series with Manchester. vs. Clinch Co.
Game 1
The Lady Bulldogs started their week with a powerful 11-0 victory over the Clinch County Panthers in the first game of Monday's doubleheader. Wheeler County’s offense was explosive, driven by a pair of home runs and a stellar pitching performance that shut down the Panthers.
Kaleigh Scott delivered an exceptional performance at the plate, hitting 2 home runs and driving in a total of 6 runs. Scott homered to center field in the second inning and then again to right field in the fourth. Scott was not alone in the power surge, as Rozilynn Cox also cleared the fence with a 3-run homer to right field in the fourth, as the team put up 6 runs in that decisive inning.
Wheeler County took an early lead, plating an unearned run in the first inning. The lead grew in the second inning when the Lady Bulldogs added 4 more runs on 3 hits. Gabby Angel contributed an RBI double, scoring 1 run, which set the stage for Scott's first 3-run shot of the day. That put Wheeler on top 5-0 after the second inning.
The Bulldogs added 6 more runs in the fourth on the way to the 11-0 win.
On the mound, Katelyn Conner was lights out, earning the win after pitching 4 shutout innings. Conner allowed only 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out an impressive 8 Clinch County batters.
Game 2
The second game of the doubleheader saw a complete reversal of fortunes, with the Lady Bulldogs falling to the Panthers 10-1.
Wheeler County managed to open the scoring in the third inning after Mackenzie Johnson blasted a solo home run to center field. However, the lead was short-lived. Clinch County took the lead in the top of the fourth when they hit a grand slam to center field, putting the Panthers up 4-1.
Clinch added 3 more runs in the fifth inning and 3 more in the sixth to take the win over Wheeler, 10-1. vs. Hawkinsville
Shaking off Monday's split, the Lady Bulldogs returned to the diamond on Tuesday of last week, and secured a dominant 12-3 victory over the Hawkinsville Lady Red Devils. This win pushed Wheeler County's season record to 18-8.
Hawkinsville opened the scoring in the first inning with a 2-run home run, but the Lady Bulldogs quickly responded. Wheeler County tied the game in the bottom of the first thanks to a double by Kaleigh Scott and a single by Shelley Conner.
Hawkinsville briefly reclaimed the lead, 3-2, in the top of the second with a single. However, the Lady Bulldogs seized control in the bottom of the second, exploding for 4 runs to take a 6-3 lead. Kaleigh Scott hit a 3-run home run to left field, followed by an RBI single from Anna Ethredge.
Wheeler County added another run in the third when Laurie Conner singled to left field, extending the lead to 7-3. The Lady Bulldogs then put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth, scoring 5 more runs on 3 hits. Shelley Conner led off with a solo home run, Gabby Angel doubled to score 3 runs, and Mackenzie Johnson grounded out to bring in another run, capping a powerful offensive display, and the 12-3 win.
This week the Lady Bulldogs were at home against the Lady Blue Devils of Manchester in the first round of the GHSA State Playoffs. They played a double header on Monday after presstime, and if necessary they had a third game on Tuesday. If the Bulldogs win that series, they will move on to play next Monday and Tuesday against the winner of the Lake Oconee Academy vs. Miller County series.
