Gilmer Celebrates “Senior Night”, Lady Knights Celebrate Win: 3-2

The Gilmer High School Lady Bobcats softball team celebrated “Senior Night” prior to its game against River Ridge. The three seniors honored, Caitlin Coleman, Skyler Banks, and Erin Barclay, were recognized and given gifts from the rest of the Lady “Cats” crew. Congrats to these seniors and good luck on in their future endeavors!After the lineups were announced, the Lady “Cats” took the field and the game was underway. Savannah Chalfant was toeing the rubber for the GHS and started off remarkably well. It took just one pitch to record the first out; then she struck out the next two batters for a quick 1-2-3 inning.

Just as quickly as the top of the first ended, the Lady Cats were able to pounce out to a 2-0 lead. Bailey Charles legged out an infield hit.

With Charles on first and one out, Kaylee “TJ” Deyton stepped into the batter’s box and knocked a two-run shot over the center field wall. The “Cats” were unable to add any further damage, but still had an early lead.

The top of the second inning was a rough one for the home team. After a quick first out, three straight walks were issued to lead the bases.

Chalfant fielded a weak grounder and got the force out at home, but the ball was thrown away on an attempt at a double play to first, allowing one run to score. A grounder to first ended the threat, but River Ridge was able to cut the lead in half.

A strikeout and two groundouts for the Lady Cats had them back in the field. A walk, wild pitch, and stolen base had a runner at third with two outs. A sharp grounder found the gap between short stop and third base and River Ridge tied the game at two apiece.

There was no additional offense until the top of the fifth, when River Ridge was able to score what ended up being the game winning run. A bunt single, stolen base, and wild pitch brought the runner home and the Lady Cats were trailing 3-2 after the fifth inning came to an end.

In the top of the seventh inning, River Ridge looked poised to add to their lead. They had runners on second and third with one out when a deep fly ball was hit to left field. As Kristen Marshall made the catch, the runner from third tried to tag and score. A laser beam throw found the mitt of the catcher, “TJ”, and the River Ridge runner was tagged out to end the inning.

Gilmer threatened in the bottom of the seventh, but was unable to rally and their comeback fell short. River Ridge took the game, 3-2.