Wheeler Lady Bulldogs Put Up a Fight In Columbus
The Wheeler County High School Lady Bulldogs softball team were in Columbus last week to take part in the GHSA State Tournament. They lost a close 1-run extra inning game to Lanier County in the first round, and then in the second game fell in another close battle to Trion. Although the Lady Bulldogs lost, they still had a record setting year in which they went 22-9 overall and were 8-2 in the Region. This was also the team's first trip to the tournament in Columbus as they finished as one of the top 8 teams in the state. vs. Lanier Co.
The Lady Dawgs dropped their opening game of the tournament 1-0 on Thursday in a fiercely contested, extrainning battle against the Lanier County Lady Bulldogs. It was a true pitcher’s duel, with both teams’ aces dominating the circle.
Ava Dixon was stellar for Wheeler County, allowing just 4 hits and 1 run over 8 innings while striking out 13 batters and walking 1. Her counterpart for Lanier County, Kaylee Creamer, was equally impressive, tossing a full 8 innings with 1 hits and 0 runs allowed, striking out 19 and walking 4.
The only run of the game came in the eighth inning when Lanier County's Sayla Schade hit a solo home run to center field.
Wheeler County’s offense managed only 2 hits, 1 each from Gabby Angel and Anna Ethredge. The defense was flawless, however, as Wheeler did not commit a single error, with Angel leading the way by recording 15 plays. vs. Trion
In their second and final game of the tournament on Friday, the Wheeler Lady Bulldogs battled to the end but ultimately fell 6-4 to the Trion Lady Bulldogs.
Wheeler County actually out-hit Trion 8 to 4, largely due to a monster performance at the plate by Mackenzie Johnson, who collected 3 hits in 3 at-bats. Johnson tallied a double in the first inning, a single in the third, and another double in the fourth. Gabby Angel also contributed with 2 hits in 3 at-bats.
The Lady Dawgs got on the board first in the top of the first inning when Ava Dixon singled, scoring 1 run. Wheeler added 1 more run in the inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Trion quickly answered, taking a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the first.
Wheeler County recaptured the lead, 4-3, in the top of the fourth on Johnson's double.
However, a costly error in the bottom of the fifth gave Trion the lead for good, 5-4. Trion plated 1 more run in the sixth inning to push their lead to 6-4, and they held on for the victory, ending the Wheeler's season.
The Lady Bulldogs showed tremendous fight throughout the tournament and should be proud of their achievement in reaching the State Softball Tournament in Columbus.
