The Gilmer Lady Bobcats softball team hosted the region rival, Pickens Dragonettes, in the first home game of the season. While the junior varsity squad came away with a 4-2 win, the varsity fell 11-4 despite leading 4-3 going into the seventh, and final, inning.GHS’s JV Lady “Cats” broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth with back to back RBI’s. Karli Loudermilk’s RBI double gave Gilmer a 3-2 lead and scored Chancey Davis. Mackenzie Chambers followed with an RBI sac ground out that scored Madison Carver and gave Gilmer the 4-2 lead that held until the end of the game.

The varsity game began with the “Cats’” claws coming out early, as Gilmer scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. An RBI sac fly from senior, Caitlin Coleman, scored Gilmer’s first run, and an RBI standing double from senior, Skyler Banks, saw GHS lead 2-0 after one.

Pickens picked up a run in the top of the second to cut the lead in half; however, Erin Barclay’s leadoff single in the bottom of the same inning, would lead to an eventual 3-1 lead for the home team.

Following two sacrifice plays, a bunt and a ground out, Barclay stood on third base. She advanced home on a passed ball for a two run Lady “Cats” lead. The lead increased to 4-1 in the bottom of the third on an RBI double from Coleman that scored Kaylee “TJ” Deyton.

Pickens’ Stephanie Riddle, hit a two run homer in the top of the fifth that cut the lead to one, 4-3. The score would remain the same until the top of the seventh.

The top of the seventh saw the Dragonettes heat up and catch fire, while “Cats” collapsed. Following a single, and what should have been a routine out, the “Cats” faced runners on second and third with no outs, an RBI single from Pickens’ Stephanie Riddle tied the game.

A bunt single loaded the bases and Paula Pickett, cleared them with a standing three run double that put Pickens up 8-4. The visitors would score three more runs to enter the bottom of the seventh, with an 11-4 lead.

The “Cats” could not scratch the surface, as Gilmer’s last up ended with all three batters falling in succession, securing the 11-4 win for the visitors.