The Region 1-AAAA softball spotlight was on Waycross Tuesday evening as the Ware County Lady Gators hosted longtime rival Wayne County at Gator Field. Despite the strong home crowd and effort, both the Junior Varsity and Varsity Lady Gators came up short against the visiting Yellowjackets.
In the Junior Varsity matchup, Wayne County jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, earning a 14-0 victory. The Yellowjackets capitalized on miscues in the first inning and added runs in the second and third before pulling away late. Ware’s JV did show fight at the plate, with AnMarie Moore-Wright and Reid each collecting a hit. On the mound, Maggie McQuaig struck out two in her three innings of work.
The Varsity contest followed, and Wayne County’s hot bats carried them to a 16-2 win. The Yellowjackets scored multiple runs in the opening inning and strung together timely hits throughout the night. The Lady Gators continued to battle, with Teriayn Kirkland and Kallie Lairsey each driving in runs and Amberley Padgett leading the offense with a 2-for-3 performance. Ware also turned a smooth double play defensively to highlight the effort in the field.
Wayne County finished with 14 hits and a balanced offensive attack, while their pitcher Ada Sluder allowed just two runs over five innings.
The Lady Gators (Varsity) will look to bounce back quickly as they travel to Folkston on Thursday to face Charlton County in non-region play.
Game Day Reminders for Fans
Ticketing: Admission is $10.00 and can be purchased online at GoFan.co or at the gate.
Streaming: Can’t make it in person? Catch all the action live through NFHS Network or tune in with Ware County’s Stream Team.
Radio Coverage: Local radio coverage is available on 105.1 The KUB.
Clear Bag Policy: A clear bag policy will be in effect for all home events at Gator Field.
Parental Supervision: All students in attendance must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The Lady Gators will continue their grind through a challenging Region 1-AAAA schedule, and Gator Nation is encouraged to keep showing support for the Green & Gold on the road and at home.
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