Toombs Outlasts Vidalia In Sweet 16 Thriller
The Toombs County Lady Bulldogs softball team are headed to Columbus after defeating their fierce rivals, the Vidalia Lady Indians, in a thrilling three-game Sweet 16 playoff series this past week. This epic showdown between the 2 local powerhouses delivered everything fans could ask for, with the Bulldogs ultimately securing their spot in the Elite 8 with a dramatic 2-1 series victory.
Game 1
The series opener on Wednesday set a strong tone for the Bulldogs, who earned a 7-3 victory at Vidalia High School. Toombs County opened the scoring in the second inning when Saige White singled to drive in a run, and Cyleigh Ennis extended the lead in the third with an RBI double.
The game-breaking rally came in the top of the sixth inning, where the Bulldogs dropped 5 runs on 3 hits, highlighted by a 2-run double from Lindy Morris and a 2-run single from Ennis. That pushed the lead to 7-0 for TCHS.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Indians plated three runs to close the lead to 7-3. They got RBI hits from Paisley Ledford, Tori Polke, and Sadie Berry. But TCHS held in the seventh inning to take the win by the score of 7- 3.
TCHS Pitcher Taylor Bland was stellar in the circle, earning the complete- game win by allowing 4 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) over 7 innings while striking out 2. Vidalia's Tori Polke took the loss, allowing 7 runs (4 earned) on 9 hits over 7 innings.
Offensively, Ennis led the Bulldogs continued from page
going 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs, while Bland and Kylah Gay also collected 2 hits apiece. The Lady Indians managed a double play, with Paisley Ledford, Polke, and Sadie Berry each driving in 1 run for Vidalia.
Game 2
Vidalia roared back in Game 2 with a dramatic 9-8 victory, forcing the decisive Game 3. This contest was a true backand- forth battle that saw multiple lead changes.
Vidalia initially jumped ahead 3-0 in the first behind RBIs from Deidra Boston and Aubrey Jones. Toombs County fought back, tying it in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly from Ennis and a single by Morris.
The Indians pulled ahead in the third with a run, but TCHS picked up 2 in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-4 lead. Vidalia then tied the game in the top of the fourth inning on a hit by Elizabeth Sowell, and took the lead in the fifth on an error by Toombs to go ahead, 6-5.
The Bulldogs retook the lead, 8-6, in the bottom of the fifth on key singles from Kylah Gay and Emerson Powell. However, Vidalia answered in the sixth, powered by an RBI from Deidra Boston and a 2-run double from Sadie Berry to take a 9-8 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Bland took the loss for Toombs, going 7 innings and allowing 9 runs (5 earned) on 10 hits, striking out 7 and walking 2. On the other side, Polke earned the win for the Indians. Emerson Powell and Lindy Morris each drove in 2 runs for Toombs. Vidalia's offense was paced by Deidra Boston (3 RBIs) and leadoff hitter Elizabeth Sowell, who collected 3 hits in 5 at-bats. Both teams showed great discipline, with Toombs County drawing 7 walks and Vidalia drawing 5.
Game 3
With the series knotted at 1–1, Thursday's Game 3 became a classic pitchers' duel, ultimately won by Toombs County 3-2. Bland(Toombs) and Polke (Vidalia) were both lights out, with both starters going the full 7 innings.
Toombs County jumped ahead early on another RBI single from Saige White in the top of the first inning. TCHS added another run in the inning to take a 2-0 lead. Ledford came through for VHS in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI hit to close the lead to 2- 1.
Neither team scored over the next 3 innings, but in the top of the fifth, TCHS got a crucial insurance run courtesy of a towering solo home run to center field by Natalie Quintero. Vidalia tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning as Ledford drove in another run for the Indians, but that was all they could get as Toombs took the win, 3- 2.
Bland and Polke engaged in a duel, with Bland striking out 2 and walking 5 over 7 innings for the win, while Polke also tossed 7 frames with 2 strikeouts and 5 walks for the Indians.
Lindy Morris led the Bulldogs with 2 hits, while Quintero, White, and Morris each drove in 1 run. Vidalia's defense was sharp, going errorless and turning a double play, with Anastyn Blewett making 8 plays. However, Paisley Ledford's 2 RBIs for the Indians were not enough to overcome the Bulldog offense.
TCHS Head Coach Hayne Brant praised his team's effort, “This group continues to rise to every challenge,” he said. “They played with heart, composure, and belief from the first pitch to the last. I’m so proud of how they’ve represented Toombs County, and we’re excited for the opportunity to compete in
Columbus.” The Toombs County Lady Bulldogs now advance to Columbus for the Elite 8 Double Elimination Tournament. Toombs will play their first game on Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. on Field 3 against Gordon Lee. If they win that game, they will play Thursday at 2:45 p.m. on Field 6 against the winner of the Banks County vs. Bremen game. If TCHS loses their first game, they will play on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. on Field 8 against the loser of that same game.
Vidalia’s Paisley Ledford gets a hit for the Lady Indians during the Sweet 16 matchup with Toombs County.Photo by Mike Branch
