GHS Lady Bulldogs win Summit Conference softball tournament
Photo by Nicole Morgan The Gainesville Lady Bulldogs defeated Sparta and Mansfield to bring home the Summit Conference Tournament championship Friday, March 21. Members of the team are, from left, (front row) Rylee Kowerduck, Lakely Anderson, Emma Veach, Mattie Cooley, Amie Winrod, Twyla Parkinson, Katelyn Morgan (back row) Macie Phillips, Claire Turner, Annabelle Freeman, Kelsie Hogan, Lilly Winrod, Hadley Warden, Emma McGinnis, Cami Strain, Kylie Leatherwood and Calleigh Goodman.
The Gainesville High School Lady Bulldogs softball team traveled to Mansfield Friday, March 21, to play in the Summit Conference tournament.
The Lady Bulldogs started the day with a 7-5 victory in a hard-fought battle with a tough Sparta team. The win moved the Lady Bulldogs to the championship game against the Mansfield Lady Lions.
The Lady Bulldogs used some timely hitting, patience at the plate, and good defense to come out on top with a 10-3 victory to win the tournament.
“I cannot say enough to express how proud I am of these girls,” said Coach Joe Walrath. “They played hard all day long. When they made mistakes they didn’t let it get them down. We’re a young team. Six of our starters are freshmen or sophomores.
“Mattie Cooley played a good shortstop and bunted well. Cami Strain used speed and power at the plate in her first high school game as a freshman. Emma McGinnis hit the ball well. Lilly Winrod was a force at the plate and flashed the leather at first base. Annabelle Freeman and Kelsie Hogan held down the outfield, and Freeman came through at the plate. Hadley Warden played a good third base and came up big at the plate. I could not ask for more out of my freshman catcher Amie Winrod. Lakely Anderson pulled off a great double play at second and hit excellent at the plate. The tip of the cap on the day has to go to my pitcher Katelyn Morgan. She kept both teams off balance all day long with her pitches, then she hit two doubles to the fence in center. Don’t get me wrong, we have a lot of improving to do. We committed way too many errors, and we needed to execute better at the plate, but on this day these young ladies left it all on the field. I’m proud of them.”
Gainesville took on Bakersfield at home on Tuesday, March 25. Results of that game were unavailable at presstime.