Bartow Senior Little League Softball wins state championship
The Bartow County Senior Little League Softball team took care of business early Tuesday night and completed their dominance at the Georgia Senior Little League State Tournament with a 15-0, five-inning, run-rule victory in the championship game over West Point Little League.
The Bartow County Senior Little League team will now join the Bartow Junior Little League Softball team as both will represent Georgia at the Little League Southeast Regional July 22-24 in North Carolina.
Loren Harris, who pitched a no-hitter on Sunday to beat West Point 11-1, was in the circle again on Tuesday night for the finals and almost repeated the feat. West Point’s Nicole Chambers managed a lone single in the top of the game’s final half inning to break up a second no-hitter.
Harris pitched all five innings and allowed only one hit, no walks, and struck out six.
After a scoreless first inning, Bartow exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the second inning and never looked back. The locals added six runs in the third and that would be all they would need.
Bartow’s Harris also excelled at the plate Tuesday. She finished the night with three hits, including a double, two runs scored, and four RBIs. Havyn Isaac also contributed three hits for Bartow in a perfect night at the plate. Isaac scored a run and drove in three.
Sarah Fox (2 RBI), Sarah Moore, and Hope Elrod (RBI) had two hits each. One of the hits by Fox was a double, she coaxed one walk, and scored three times. Moore scored a run and Elrod scored twice and drove in a run.
Sierrah Gani, Morgan Deboard (RBI), Emily Collum, and Alexia Najarro (RBI) all added one hit apiece for the state champs. Deboard stole two bases. Elrod, Collum, and Isaac also stole a base.
Bartow went undefeated (3-0) in the state tournament. Along with the two game sweep of West Point, the locals defeated Northern (Columbus) Little League 8-4 last Saturday.
Rowan Little League and North Carolina District 2 will host the Junior League, Senior League and Big League Southeastern Regional Tournaments July 22-24 at Salisbury Community Park in Salisbury, NC.
The Bartow County Junior Little League team was unopposed in Georgia and will face Richmond County Little League (Warsaw, VA) in the opening round. The Bartow County Senior Little League team will also meet a team from Virginia in their regional opener. The Georgia champs take on Shore Little League (Nassawadox, VA) in the first round.
The Southeast Regional tournament winners will advance to the Little League World Series in August.
Southeast Regional festivities get underway on July 21 with a Tournament Kickoff Banquet at West End Plaza in Salisbury.
SOUTHEAST REGIONAL SCHEDULES FOR BARTOW COUNTY LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL
Junior League (13-14 year olds) (modfied double-elimination) Friday, July 22 G1 - Bartow County, GA vs. Richmond County LL (Warsaw), VA, 10 am G2 - Rowan County LL (Salisbury), NC vs. Florida, 12:30 pm G3 - Woodlawn, TN vs. G2 winner, 3:30 pm Saturday, July 23 G4 - Loser G1 vs. Loser G2, 10 am (elimination game) G5 - Winner G2 vs. Winner G3, 12:30 pm G6 - Winner G4 vs. Loser G3, 3:30 pm (elimination game) Sunday, July 24 G7 - Winner G6 vs. Loser G5, 10 am (elimination game) G8 - Winner G9 vs. Winner G7, 1:30 pm (championship game)
Senior League (15-16 year olds) (modfied double-elimination)
Friday, July 22
G1 - Washington, NC vs. Florida, 10:30 am
G2 - Bartow County, GA vs. Shore LL (Nassawadox), VA, 1 pm
G3 - Moorefield, WV vs. G1 winner, 4 pm
G4 - Smoky Mountain LL (Newport), TN vs. G2 winner, 6:30 pm
Saturday, July 23
G5 - Loser G1 vs. Loser G4, 10:30 am (elimination game)
G6 - Loser G2 vs. Loser G3, 1 pm (elimination game)
G7 - Winner G3 vs. Winner G4, 4 pm
G8 - Winner G5 vs. Winner G6, 6:30 pm (elimination game)
Sunday, July 24
G9 - Winner G8 vs. Loser G7, 12 noon (elimination game)
G10 - Winner G9 vs. Winner G7, 3:30 pm (championship game)
The Bartow County Senior League roster includes: Sarah Fox, Taylor Queen, Hope Elrod, Sierrah Gani, Loren Harris, Madison Harrison, Alexia Najarro, Makenzi McIntyre, Morgan Deboard, Maggie Collum, Sarah Moore, Emily Collum, and Havyn Isaac. Coaches: Greg Hight, Hannah Hight, and Haley Hood.
