Whitewater and Starr's Mill start softball season strong

Whitewater and Starr’s Mill’s varsity softball teams have both started the season with a 4-0-1 record at the Georgia Dugout Club tournament, good enough to win their pool.

In the PrepCountry.com/GACA Coaches Poll, Whitewater was ranked fourth in Class AAAAA and Starr’s Mill was ranked ninth. Tuesday night they faced each other in their first region contests of the season and Whitewater won 8-0.

Whitewater won their first game, 1-0 over Pike with Mackenzie Toler and Katie Cannington combining on the mound for a complete game shutout. Cannington was 2 for 2 at the plate and scored the winning run, while Gabby Hunt was 2 for 3 and Hannah Thomason was 1 for 3.

In the second game, the Lady Wildcats faced Alcovy and tied 5-5. Whitewater led 2-0 until the seventh when Alcovy tied it. The Lady Tigers scored three runs in the international tiebreaker inning and Whitewater followed suit in the bottom half of the inning. McKenzie Etchart carried a two hit shutout into the seven inning when Alcovy tied the game. Cannington was 2 for 4 with three stolen bases, while Hunt was 3 for 4 with three RBI, Toler was 2 for 2 and Maci Townsend was 1 for 2.

Whitewater then faced Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy twice and won both games, 8-3 and 9-2. Cannington pitched complete games in both wins. Kylee Southers was 2 for 2 with two runs scored in game one, while Toler was 2 for 2 with a three run home run. Kimberly Perkins was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and Thomason was 2 for 2. In game two, Toler hit another three run home run, Cannington was 2 for 2 with two stolen bases and Becca Stallings was 3 for 3. Hunt and Brielle Grubbs each had two hits, Thomason drove in two runs and Etchart was 1 for 3.

In the final game of the tournament, Whitewater beat Colquitt County 12-0. Cannington was 2 for 3 at the plate with four stolen bases, Toler was 3 for 3 with another three run home run, Thomas was 2 for 3 with two stolen bases and Hunt and Stallings each added a hit.

Cannington, Hunt and Toler each made the Georgia Dugout Club tournament team.

Starr’s Mill also went 4-0-1, beating Duluth 1-0, Georgia Military 3-2, Strong Rock Christian 16-1 and Fayette County 17-1. They tied Pike County 4-4.

“We had great pitching from Sam Laing and Hailey Clark,” head coach Mark Williamson said. “Offensive standouts were Natalie Orcutt, Katie Ressl, Sarah Flanders, Torie Legere, and Ellie Ressl.”

Laing gave up one earned run in 13 innings and Orcutt was named to the Georgia Dugout Club tournament team.

Senior Cymone Faison was Fayette County’s member of the tournament team.  For the tournament she hit .500. 

“So far this season she is hitting .368 with a homerun, a double, a stolen base, and six RBI,” said head coach Mark Waxmonsky. “Senior Annisah Smith is also off to a fast start hitting .300 with 5 doubles, 9 runs scored, and a stolen base.”

Fayette County and McIntosh both went 0-3-1 in the tournament. The Lady Chiefs and Lady Tigers tied each other 5-5 last Wednesday.