Excel Christian softball wins important matchup

The Excel Christian Lady Eagles won an important matchup Monday night at home against Fellowship Christian, 12-5.

With ECA ranked 13th in last week's GHSA Class A power ratings and Fellowship Christian ranked 14th, the Lady Paladins had a chance to leap frog the Lady Eagles. The win by Excel, however, ensures they will remain ahead of Fellowship in the next ratings due out Tuesday.

In Class A, the eight region winners qualify for the state playoffs and the remaining eight state playoff spots are determined by the power ratings. Taylor Gibson went the distance for Excel Christian Academy in the circle and picked up another pitching victory. "That was a key game for us," said ECA coach Eric Harris. "Taylor has been very consistent for us all season and she did another good job tonight."

Whitney Harris was 3-for-4 at the plate for the Eagles. Brighton McCollum and Rachel Parrott both hit two-run homers and had a pair of hits apiece. Lindsay Mauldin also had two hits and Aliza Baker added one more hit for the Excel offense. The Lady Eagles have three home games remaining on their regular season schedule. With no region tournament in Region 6A, those three games will determine Excel's playoff fate.

They host King's Ridge Tuesday at 4:30, followed by Christian Heritage Thursday, and North Cobb Christian Friday.