The 4-2 loss to Woodland was the first of the year for the Hoyas who, with an overall record at 11-1 now, had last lost in the state playoffs to state champs Collins Hill at the end of last season.
“We were ready to play,” head coach Colman Roberts said of his team. “We were able to win because we played great defense and that got us out of a lot of jams tonight. Casey Bucy pitched a great game. She settled down after giving up a first-inning home run.”
Bucy picked up the win, striking out two Hoyas while surrendering just four hits and allowing two earned runs.
Harrison, the visiting team, had struck early with a solo home run in the top of the first inning. They added a second run in the fifth.
Woodland scored its run in the third, the 3-run shot by Fritz, and added an insurance in the bottom of the fifth.
The Wildcats were powered offensively by Cat Moreno, who was 1-of-4 with a double and a run scored; Taylor Braselton, 1-of-3 with a run; Fritz, 1-of-2 with her home run; Bucy, 1-of-3 with an RBI; Cheyanne Burt, 1-of-3; Darby Cagle, 1-of-2.
With the win, the Lady Wildcats improve their overall record to 10-8, 3-2 in Region 7A-AAAA.
They return to region play today by hosting Northwest Whitfield, who took their measure 5-2 when they played Aug. 18.
The victory over Harrison comes after a stretch of some very brutal softball games played by the Lady Wildcats.
Woodland went 0-5 against many of North Georgia’s best softball teams in the Buccaneer Bash tourney held in late August.
The tourney certainly introduced the Lady Wildcats to some harsh lessons about playing the region’s best teams.
Harrison is the second team to reap the benefits of what Woodland has learned.
Last week the Lady Wildcats took apart sub-region foe Sequoyah by a 5-1 score, evening their season record with the Lady Chiefs at 1-all.
Today they play the Northwest Whitfield Bruins, currently leading the sub-region with a 5-0 record and sporting an overall record of 8-3.
Woodland also plays Gordon Lee, No. 1 in 1A and defending state champs, Friday at 5 p.m. at Twin Creeks, 3A Harris County on Friday at 6:45 p.m. at Twin Creeks, and 4A Marist on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and 3A Dalton at 10:15 a.m., also at Twin Creeks.