Pitching propelled the Commerce High School softball team to a sixth-place finish overall last weekend in its season-opening tournament at Lanier Point Softball Complex.
The Tigers (3-3) faced competition from several GHSA classifications, including defending Class AAA state champions White County. CHS finished in the gold division, or top part of the bracket, in the 16-team tournament.
“They agreed they have a few things to work on. I don’t think we’ll see any better pitching than we saw this weekend. We might see pitching as good as but not better,” CHS coach Pam Canup said.
Kayla Burks (2-0) pitched a one-hitter and struck out four batters to win the Tigers’ first game, 10-0, against Gainesville. Burks, Drea Mathis and JP Parkerson, all seniors, each earned two hits apiece.
Burks followed that outing in the afternoon with another solid performance against Gilmer High from Ellijay, who the Tigers outscored 6-4. Bridget Barnett and Savannah Romans led the offense with three hits apiece.
Barnett, a freshman, earned the team’s third win and her first as a pitcher in high school against Hart County, 2-1. She gave up three hits, two strikeouts and a walk. Parkerson, Jenna Thomas and Kaylee Partin led the offense for the victory, which moved the Tigers into a top-flight finish.
“Overall, I’m pleased. It was disappointing how it ended against Habersham County but overall there was a lot more good than negative,” Canup said. “We ran out of gas against Habersham County. No excuses.”
The Tigers’ losses included White County, 5-1, Union County, 6-0, and Habersham County, which won the game by the run rule.
Even so, pitchers handled the pressure well, as did hitters, Canup said.
Thomas, a freshman, allowed only five hits against White County. She struck out three and gave up only one walk, which was intentional, the coach reported.
And sophomore Savannah Barnett struck out three batters and walked three during Commerce’s loss to Union County. Barnett and freshman Hannah Crumley also contributed hits during the day, which started at 8 a.m. Saturday and ended after 9 p.m.
This weekend, CHS will host its own Commerce Invitational. Saturday's tournament will be held at the recreation department fields off Carson Street.
The Tigers' first game is at 9:30 a.m.
