VRD 12U Girls Are State Champions
The Vidalia Recreation Department 12U girls softball team traveled across the state to Dalton last week and returned home with some serious hardware. Taking down familiar rivals along the way, the VRD squad navigated a tough Georgia Recreation and Parks Association State Tournament field to capture the State Championship.
VRD vs. Whitfield
Vidalia opened the tournament against the host team, Whitfield County, and made an undeniable statement. The offense exploded in the bottom of the first inning, crossing the plate 12 times to put the game out of reach early. A three-run third inning ended things abruptly as VRD cruised to a 15-0 run-rule shutout.
VRD vs. Colquitt
Vidalia’s pitching and defense kept the momentum going against Colquitt County. The girls manufactured steady offense by scratching across a single run in both the first and second innings to establish an early 2-0 edge. A four-run surge in the third frame broke the game open. Adding a final tally in the fifth polished off a comfortable 7-0 victory while keeping Colquitt completely off the scoreboard.
VRD vs. Emanuel
The winners’ bracket semifinal brought a familiar matchup against Emanuel County. VRD struck first by bringing a run home in the bottom of the second, then tacked on three more in the third to build a 4-0 cushion. Emanuel refused to go quietly, plating a pair of runs in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit in half. The Vidalia defense simply buckled down from there, tossing two scoreless innings to hold on for a gritty 4-2 win.
VRD vs. Emanuel Championship Game Emanuel rallied through the losers’ bracket to set up a final showdown for the State Championship. Pitching dominated the tense title game. Emanuel struck first with a run in the top of the third, leaving Vidalia trailing until they managed to scrape together a run to tie it 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth. With the season on the line in the fifth inning, VRD pushed the go-ahead run across. The defense took over, shutting the door in the sixth to secure the 2-1 victory and the title.
Hoisting the trophy provided a highly satisfying dose of redemption for the Vidalia squad. VRD had finished as the runner-up to Emanuel County in the District Tournament just weeks prior. Taking down their local rival twice on the state's biggest stage proved to be the perfect way to cap off a State Championship run.
VRD 12U Girls State Champions – (L to R, Front): Janna Hutchinson, Annie Smith, Bailee Fondren, Emma Kate Lindsey, Emilia Faulk, Julianna Mccaw; (Back): Coach Sam Sapp, Avery Montford, Myla Sasser, Dani Williams, Chessley Horton, Coach Josh Owen, Isabella Morgan, James Owen, Hope Williams, and Coach Eric Lindsey.
