For the Banks County High School Lady Leopards, it was good to have some clear skies.
With rain causing havoc with the schedule the previous week, the BCHS team was able to return to the field last Wednesay and record a 10-1 victory against East Hall. The Lady Leopards needed just five innings to complete their task.
“This was the best we’ve looked at the plate all year,” coach Josh Lord said.
The BCHS offense compiled 13 hits while pitcher Kim Thomas was two outs from recording a perfect game.
“Hopefully, we can carry this momentum for the rest of the season,” Lord said.
Several players contributed at the plate including Ashley Denton (3-for-3, two runs, RBI), Thomas (2-for-4, run, two RBI, double), Catlyn Free (2-for-2), Madison Franklin (2-for-4, two runs), Hayley Baird (2-for-4, run, stolen base) and Jordan Rogers (double, run and RBI).
Laura Rose Pickens and Brittany Cook both contributed a single, run and RBI.
The Lady Leopards returned to region play the following day with a 5-4 win in nine innings at Rabun County. Lord noted every game during the last three seasons against the Lady Wildcats have been decided by one run.
“We knew what to expect going in,” the coach said. “We were able to carry over some confidence at the plate from the East Hall game and we looked pretty good against a solid Rabun County pitcher. Being able to execute sacrifice bunts and manufacture runs in the tie breaker innings was key.”
After Rabun scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the first, the BCHS defense settled down and Thomas turned in another masterful performance.
Thomas went all nine innings and recorded six strikeouts.
Denton led the offense with three hits and an RBI while Franklin had two including a double with two runs scored and an RBI.
The Lady Leopards recorded their eighth win in their last 10 games with the victory against Rabun County.
JUNIOR VARSITY:
The BCHS JV defeated East Hall 1-0 and Rabun County 4-3 in recent contests.
Taylor Purvis recorded the win against East Hall as Jordan Rogers, Courtney Entrekin, Sabrina Porter and Ashley O’Kelley paced the offense.
Catlyn Free scored the lone run of the contest in the first inning.
Purvis also got the win against Rabun allowing no earned runs.
McKenna Rylee had two hits including a triple while O’Kelley, Purvis, Entrekin and Tori Smallwood had one each.
Smallwood had the go-ahead RBI in the sixth inning after Rabun had scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth.
