Fannin’s JV Finds First Home Game Success

The Fannin Lady Rebels junior varsity softball team cooled the flame of the Dragonettes of Pickens High School. The Lady Rebels came from behind to win 3-2 in the home opener for the Lady Rebels.The low scoring affair began with Halle Dean on the mound for the Lady Rebels. Dragonette lead off batter, Paula Pickett, reached base with a single to left field. After two strike outs, Brooke Wilson hit to the short stop and legged out a single; however, she was able to continue to second when the Lady Rebels threw home to hold up Pickett at third. Jessica Ray’s RBI single scored Pickett. The top of the inning came to a close when Makayla Payne, brought in as a courtesy runner, was thrown out in an attempted steal of second.

The Lady Rebels were held scoreless in the bottom of the second, as only one batter, Dean, was able to reach base, sandwiched between two strike outs. Bailey Jones was thrown out at first to end the inning.

Following a lead off fly out to center field, Pickens’ Kym Elrod was walked. Following a single by Kari Henke that just missed the third basewoman’s glove, Elrod was able to steal third. The defense held tight as the Nettes’ fire was cooled with a ground out and a fly out.

The bottom of the second was highlighted by Katie Brow’s bunt single and subsequent stealing of second and third bases; however the Lady Rebels were unable to capitalize and she was left stranding by two straight strike outs that ended the inning.

The top of the third saw the Nette’s first two batters go down via fly outs. Brooke Wilson’s single blooper over second base followed by Jessica Ray’s single that resulted in an extra base due to field error, were the only offensive threats as Payne flew out to center field.

The bottom of the third began with Brooklyn Maz reaching first on a dribbler followed by Morgan Ross being hit by a pitch.. Dean loaded the bases, with a single. Both Ross and Maz were able to score buy stealing home on an errant pitch, to make the score 2-1 in Fannin’s favor. Following a sacrifice ground out by Amy Mintz, Dean stole home, after an overthrow, to give Fannin a two run lead and the final Lady Rebel score of the night.

The Dragonettes continued to try to catch fire in the fourth and final inning, when Elrod lead off with a single, but reached second on an overthrow at first. She later reached third via a steal. The next batter, MaryJo Childers, drove her home with an RBI single, making the score 3-2. The Lady Rebels were able to hold on to the win when the last three batters failed to reach first.