The Dawson County High School Lady Tiger softball team is headed to the state sectionals. The Lady Tigers picked up wins over Oglethorpe County, Jefferson and Jackson County to pave their way into the playoffs.
Up next will be a formable task as the Lady Tigers will face defending state AA champions and #1-ranked Buford (24-4) in the opening round. It will be a best of three series and will begin Wednesday at Buford High School.
“I am happy for our players,” said Head Coach Jimmy Pruett. “We won three pretty good games to get in. Buford will be very good, but I like our chances.”
The Region 8-AA tournament opened up last Monday, Oct. 4 at Jefferson High School. Dawson began the tournament with a huge 9-0 win over Oglethorpe County (6-17).
Dawson scored at least one run in each of the five innings, shortened because of the run rule, to post the win.
The Lady Tigers were on fire offensively and pounded out 11 hits. Leadoff hitter Kimberly Wallace and centerfielder Sydney Crumley each had three hits in the contest.
Jenna Abbott picked up the win from the pitchers mound. Abbott had seven strikeouts and only two walks.
Pruett and his team had to travel back to Jefferson (22-9-1) on Tuesday for a game with the host Lady Dragons. Jefferson finished in second place in its sub-region.
Once again the Dawson bats came alive.
The Lady Tigers amassed 14 hits against Jefferson and came away with an 8-0 victory. Pruett’s team scored one run in the third inning, three runs in the fifth inning, and put the game away with four runs in the sixth inning.
Leaders at the plate with multiple hits were Wallace, Crumley and Abbott each with three hits.
Gracie Hovan picked up two hits for the Lady Tigers. Crumley added three RBIs.
The tournament site then switched to North Oconee High School.
Next up was #3-ranked in AA, Union County.
The Lady Panthers came into the contest with a 24-1-1 overall record. Union scored runs in the fourth and fifth innings off of Dawson starter Abbott to pick up a 2-0 win. Abbott finished the game with nine strikeouts in the loss.
The Lady Tigers managed only three hits in the game.
Later on Thursday the Lady Tigers faced a hard-hitting team in Jackson County (16-11-2). Dawson had to win in order to make state. Win they did. The Lady Tigers came away with a 4-2 victory.
Pulley and Crumley led the offense. Each tallied three hits and the Lady Tigers had 11 hits for the game.
Old nemesis, Fannin County, was the opponent on Saturday.
For the third time this season the Lady Rebels (15-10) were victorious. The Lady Rebels capitalized on four Dawson errors for the 7-1 win.
Wallace picked up two of the Lady Tiger’s four hits in the game.
Union County went on to win the Region 8-AA crown.
Finishing in second place was North Oconee, followed by Fannin County and #4-seed Dawson County.