The Ware County Lady Gators Softball team traveled to Columbus this past weekend to compete in the Northside Invitational, where they finished with a 1-2 record. The Gators battled in every game, showing grit at the plate and strong play in the circle.
Friday: Ware County 3, King’s Ridge 4
The tournament opened with a tough matchup against King’s Ridge Christian. Ware County dropped a 4-3 contest after a pair of early errors gave the Tigers an advantage in the first inning.
Senior pitcher Kayleigh LeMay kept the Gators in the game, allowing just one earned run across five innings. At the plate, Cassidy Lee drove in two runs, while Mattie Forsyth and Amberley Padgett added hits. The Gators also worked six walks, showing patience at the plate.
Saturday: Ware County 13, Shaw 0
The Lady Gators bounced back in a big way on Saturday, dominating Shaw 13-0 in four innings. Amberley Padgett led the offensive surge, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI.
Ware County piled up 13 hits in the game, with doubles from Forsyth, Kallie Lairsey, and LeMay. Forsyth, Lee, and LeMay each drove in two runs apiece, while Ashlyn Jacobs added two hits.
In the circle, Forsyth was nearly unhittable, striking out six and not allowing a walk while keeping Shaw off the board. Defensively, the Gators were flawless, committing no errors.
Saturday: Ware County 1, Decatur 2
The weekend finale turned into a heartbreaker, as the Lady Gators fell 2-1 to Decatur. Ware County struck first when an error allowed a run in the opening inning, but Decatur tied the game in the fifth and pushed across the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the seventh.
LeMay was strong once again in the circle, going the distance with six hits allowed, two runs, and four strikeouts. Lairsey and Ella Musgrove each had two hits, while the Gators collected six total.
Despite the loss, the Lady Gators showed their ability to compete against quality opponents and now look ahead to region play.
Next Up:
Ware County will travel to Perry High School on Tuesday for a Region 1-AAAA showdown. First pitch is set for 4:30 PM. Fans can watch live on NFHS Network Streaming.
Important Reminders for Gator Fans
At all Ware County athletic events and sites, a clear bag policy is in place and enforced. Contest times and locations are subject to change due to inclement weather without notice.
Stay tuned to 105.1 The KUB, follow Ware County Gator Nation on Facebook and X, and visit the Ware County Athletic Website for updates, schedules, and results.
We appreciate the continued support of our Gator community - see you at the ballpark!
Go Gators!