Region 7-AAAAA playoffs: Woodland moves within one win of state, Cass stays alive

Woodland pulled to within one win of advancing to the state playoffs Tuesday night with a 10-2 Region 7-AAAAA tournament win at home over Cass. The victory advances the Lady Cats to a Thursday matchup against Hiram with the winner locking down a state playoff berth. Cass defeated Kell earlier in the evening Tuesday by the same 10-2 score to reach the matchup with Woodland. The loss now sends the Lady Colonels to an elimination game Wednesday night at Woodland against Rome.

Woodland pitcher Lainey Baker (photo) limited Cass to only four hits, a walk, and a single earned run. She struck out six. Brianna Hill had two hits and drove in three runs for Woodland. Kailey Baker drove in a pair of runs with two hits. Bella Carnes contributed two hits including a triple and one RBI while Ansley Evans also added two base hits. Morgan Bailey and Hannah Miller added hits for the Wildcats. Allyssa Motes drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Kylee Hembree (5.2 IP, 10R, 7ER, 11H, 4BB) suffered the loss in the circle for Cass.

Rachael Lee had two hits for the Lady Colonels. Alexis Woods drove in a run with a double. Kelly Young and Hembree had base hits. Haley Smith added one RBI.

CASS 10, KELL 2

In the win over Kell, Cass broke open a 1-1 game with a six-run fourth inning then added three more runs in the bottom of the next inning for a run-rule margin, 10-2.

Lee (5 IP, 2ER, 5H, 0BB, 1K) picked up the pitching win. Ansley Hight had three hits including a double, a triple, a sac fly, and three RBI to lead the Colonels’ offense. Eryn Lee (3 RBI) and Woods (RBI) finished with two hits apiece. Young (RBI), Saydee Najarro (RBI), and Lee had the other Cass base hits. Hembree added one RBI.

Cass (12-16) plays Rome at 7 p.m. Wednesday in an elimination game at Woodland. The winner stays alive in the loser’s bracket for a 7 p.m. Thursday. Woodland (17-10) will host Hiram at 5 p.m. Thursday.

PHOTO: Randy Parker, The Daily Tribune News