After going winless in the Buccaneer Bash at Allatoona on Aug. 26-27, Woodland returned to tournament play last Friday and Saturday at the Cherokee Invitational at Twin Creeks Softball Complex.
The Lady ’Cats managed to sandwich a win against Marist between a pair of losses to start the tournament — Gordon Lee, Harris County — as well as two more to close it — Mill Creek, Gilmer County.
In its third game, Woodland broke out to score double-digit runs in a 10-3 victory over the Lady War Eagles, a win that snapped a seven-game win streak.
Taylor Braselton went 2 for 3, two runs; Bailey Roberts 1 for 4, two RBIs; Casey Bucy 2 for 4, double, two RBIs, two runs; Lacey Fritz 3 for 4, two RBIs; Kat Moreno 2 for 4, run; Jessie Michaels, 1 for 4; Sydney Flowers 1 for 2, two runs; Cheyanne Burt 2 for 2, two runs; and Darby Cagle 0 for 3, run.
Bucy gave up one earned run on three walks and six hits, and struck out four.
The Lady ’Cats failed to build on their momentum, however, dropping their next game to Mill Creek, 11-0, in a shutout.
Moreno and Cagle both went 2 for 2 while Bucy finished 1 for 2. Bucy surrendered seven earned runs in 3 2/3 innings, walking four, giving up 10 hits and striking out three.
Woodland ended the tournament with a one-run loss to Gilmer, 3-2.
Brooke Rogers pitched four innings with four strikeouts, two walks, four hits and two earned runs.
Contributing to the Lady ’Cats’ offense were Katie Harris, 1 for 2; Roberts 1 for 2; Michaels, 0 for 1, run; Burt, 1 for 2, run; and Bridgett Hampton, 1 for 1, double, two RBIs.
Woodland was held to two runs as it opened the tournament, losing to the Gordon Lee, 8-1, and Harris County, 2-1.
In their seven-run loss to the Lady Trojans — Class A’s No. 1 team and defending state champions — the Lady ’Cats were paced at the plate by Braselton, 2 for 4, run; Roberts, 1 for 3; Bucy, 1 for 3; Fritz, 0 for 3, RBI; Moreno, 2 for 3; Flowers, 1 for 3; and Cagle, 1 for 2.’
Rogers was tagged for 10 hits but only allowed one earned run to cross the plate. She also had one walk and one strikeout.
Against the Lady Tigers, Woodland fell short despite a six-strikeout effort by Bucy, who gave up two earned runs on five hits and one walk.
Roberts led the Lady ’Cats, going 2 for 3 with a run, and Fritz, Michaels and Hampton each went 1 for 3, with Fritz adding an RBI.
The Lady ’Cats began their week with Wednesday’s 4-2 upset of top-ranked Harrison, a Class AAAAA team, before losing to No. 9-ranked Northwest Whitfield Thursday in a Region 7A-AAAA contest.
Woodland (11-12) plays at Cherokee Wednesday in a non-region game scheduled for 5:55 p.m.