david.royal@daily-tribune.com
Lacey Fritz knocked in four runs, including a two-run homer, as Woodland climbed above .500 in its sub-region Tuesday and at least temporarily into second place by defeating the Rome Lady Wolves, 13-2.
Woodland pounded out 12 hits in its victory, pitching ace Casey Bucy allowed two runs while pitching a five-inning one hitter and striking out five in a game shortened by the run rule.
Head coach Colman Roberts said the Wildcats had been playing "a little flat" over the past couple of weeks and needed to play up to their ability.
"We're just trying to get back to playing like we know we can," Roberts said. "We've played some very tough competition and that's got us a little flat. We just have to play hard every game and get back to our winning ways."
Fritz led the offensive assault for Woodland, also registering a double as she went 2-for-2 at the plate and knocked in four runs.
The Lady Wolves had struck first on the evening, scoring two runs in the top of the first.
Woodland struck back with two outs in the bottom of the frame when Bucy hit a pitch over the centerfielder's head and went home courtesy of Fritz's two-run shot to knot the score at 2-all after one inning of play.
Bucy, who was 3-of-4 with a double and two RBIs while scoring two runs, kept Rome' bats in check the top of the second.
Woodland's bats got cranked up again in the bottom of the second, as Jessie Michaels singled her way on, advanced to second on a sacrifice by Bridgett Hampton, took third on a single by Sydney Flowers and then scored when Taylor Braselton was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Woodland added five more runs with Cheyanne Burt, Flowers, Braselton, Sydney Hodorff and Bucy crossing the plate for the home team.
Woodland added two more runs in the bottom of the third, scored by Flowers and Braselton, to go up 11-2.
The Lady Wildcats scored their final two runs of the night in the bottom of the fourth, when Burt hit a standup double to center field, then scored on a double by Braselton. Braselton crossed home plate after a single by Emma Hicks.
Braselton was 2-of-3 with a double, two RBIs and three runs; Kat Moreno, 1-of-3 with an RBI, Michaels, 2-of-3 with one RBI; Burt, 2-of-2 with a double and two runs; and Flowers, 1-of-3 with two runs.
The Lady Wildcats were not charged with an error on the evening.
The Wildcats are 4-3 in 7A-AAAA, a half a game ahead of Sequoyah, which is 3-3 but has played one less game.
Tuesday's game was the first sub-region matchup for Woodland since it fell 5-2 to Northwest Whitfield on Sept. 8. The victory pushed the Lady Wildcats' overall record to 12-14.
The Lady Wildcats return to the softball diamond on Thursday, when they entertain cross-county rival Cass. The game starts at 7:15 p.m.
Roberts said Cass is playing perhaps its best ball of the season and he expects a challenge when the Lady Colonels come calling.
"They are a good team that is well coached," he said. "They're playing well and we will have to be at our best."