Lady Canes rout Darlington for opening day softball win

The Lady Canes scored twice in the top of the first inning Saturday afternoon at Darlington and never looked back on their way to a 15-4 opening day rout of the Lady Tigers in a non-region game.

Cartersville added two more runs in the third, four runs in the fourth, and put the game away with an seven-run seventh inning.

The Lady Canes pounded out 16 hits in the game, including a grand slam home run by Colbi Ballard and five more extra-base hits by her teammates.

Ballard also gave Cartersville a strong performance in the pitching circle. She allowed only two earned runs on four hits and five walks in earning the pitching victory.

Hope Short had a four-hit performance and Ballard added three hits. Short drove in four runs and scored twice. Ballard’s monster day included two doubles with her homer and seven RBIs.

Presley Edwards drove in three runs with a pair of hits including a double. Lauren McElhaney also doubled and had two hits.

Cio Seigler (RBI, sac bunt), Kalli Beth Scheff, AnnaKate McElhaney (triple), Rylie Harris, and Paris Poston (HBP 3 times, stolen base) added hits for the Canes.

Cartersville (1-0) travels to Cedartown for a make-up game Monday at 5:30pm and hosts Central-Carrollton Tuesday and Darlington next Thursday at the Cartersville Sports Complex on Sugar Valley Road. Both home games are also scheduled for 5:30pm starts.