The loss dropped the Lady Purple Hurricanes to 4-5 in Region 7-AAA and likely will make their foray into the upcoming region tournament, which starts Oct. 1, more difficult.
“We hit the ball hard sometimes but we just hit it right at them,” head coach Rick Holsomback said. “It was one of those games where we couldn’t buy a hit. Hey, hats off to them. They did what they needed to do.”
The Lady Raiders claimed their win in the top of the sixth by squeezing out a run and breaking a 1-1 tie. Cartersville had scored in the bottom of the first, then was tied by Southeast in the fourth.
Tinsley Dodson scored the run for the Lady Canes, as the senior outfielder got on with a base on balls, was bunted to second by Kailah Rain, then went to third when Annalyn Yantis singled. Mallory hit a fielder’s choice that sent her home.
“Mallory has been steady for us all year,” Holsomback said.
Southeast tied the game in the fourth, then scored the go-ahead run in the sixth. The win raises their Region 7-AAA record to 2-7.
Annalyn Yantis gave up two earned runs in taking the loss for Cartersville. The freshman pitched a complete 7-inning game, issuing seven hits and one walk while striking out seven.
Holsomback said the Lady Canes, who got four hits for their night’s work and are averaging just three runs per outing, need more effort in their game.
“We’ve got to be more focused,” he said. “We’ve got to swing at strikes. We have to be more aggressive at the plate. We’re just not doing that right now.
“Some girls have to pick it up a little bit and that’s just part of it.”
He said parts of the Lady Canes’ game looked good Thursday night.
“I think our defense played well,” he said. “Our pitching was well. Our shortstop made some good plays.”
He noted the region tournament is rapidly approaching now and Thursday’s loss will have a bearing on the Lady Canes’ seeding.
“It makes the road a little bit harder for us,” he said, “but they are going to have to figure it out.”
Region tournament play starts Oct. 1.
The Canes return to the softball diamond Tuesday when they visit LaFayette in a contest that starts at 5 p.m. They then return to the friendly confines of home on Thursday when they entertain Murray County in a game that starts at 5:30 p.m.
LaFayette currently is in second place in the region, with a 7-1 record. Murray County is in 12th, with an 0-7 record.