Lady Rebels Rise Falls Short for Fannin: Gilmer Gets Last Laugh

The Fannin High School Lady Rebels junior varsity softball team fell, when Gilmer High School’s JV Lady Bobcats bared its claws in the seventh inning. Gilmer broke a 5-5 tie with four runs scored in the top of the seventh inning. Fannin flamed out in the bottom of the inning, with only Lauren Hensley reaching base, which sealed Gilmer’s 9-5 victory. The Lady Rebels also likely lost Brooklyn Naz for the rest of the season due to a torn scapula muscle injury.Neither team scored in the first inning. The Lady Cats leaped first in the second inning. Following two Fannin errors, Gilmer led by one after two innings.

In the top of the third Gilmer hit a two run double that, to the Fannin Faithful, fortunately fell in Fannin favor, a hair’s breath short of a Home Run, to take a 3-0 lead.

The bottom of the third was highlighted by Brooklyn Naz’s double; which followed a failed Fannin bunt attempt, courtesy of Courtney White. Hensley’s sacrifice ground out moved Naz to third, but a strike out by Katie Brown left Naz stranded at third.

Hensley shut the Lady Bobcats down in the top of the fourth, allowing only one base runner in the inning. The offense of Fannin was found in the fourth. After two Gilmer errors put runners on first and second, a single by Barkley Jones loaded the bases. Halle Dean’s base clearing double tied the game at 3-3. The inning came to close when White’s line drive was caught at first base and Jones was tagged out in a double play.

Gilmer took the lead in the top of the fifth with two more runs. The bottom of the fifth began with Naz’s injury and a strike out. Lauren Hensley hit a single to left and subsequently stole second. A RBI single by Amy Mintz made it 5-4. Jordan Deal followed with a game tying RBI single. The inning was effectively ended when Deal was called out because she “left before the ball was released.”

Defense reigned supreme for both teams in the sixth, with neither team scoring. The seventh saw, a lead off Gilmer double, followed by two singles, which gave Gilmer the lead for good. A base clearing triple and another RBI single pushed the lead to 9-5 in Gilmer’s favor, and the Lady Bobcats’ defense ended the game.