Fannin Spanks Banks: Lady Rebels Leap on Lady Leopards 8-0

The Fannin County High School Lady Rebels softball team shut out the not so leaping Leopards of Banks County High School. Fannin flame thrower, Sadie Golden, was credited with the complete game shutout victory.After allowing only one Banks batter on first, lead off batter Madison Franklin who was promptly thrown out in a failed steal attempt, the Lady Rebels leaped on the Leopard early as they scored five runs in the first inning to take a 5-0 lead into second.

The Lady Rebels run began with one out in the bottom of the first inning. Ashley Watkins, legged out a single, followed by Karly Thompson reaching first after a drop at second base that prevented a double play. Alexis Collis’ line drive to left field loaded the bases. Candace German “blitzkrieged” the ball and hit a grand slam, bringing the Fannin faithful into a raucous Rebel frenzy.

Natalie McLaughlin’s at bat was no laughing matter, as she connected to hit a line drive double to left center. Following a Fannin fly out, Mallory Deal was hit by a pitch and there were women on first and second. Golden’s RBI single finished the first inning scoring for the home team.

Banks batters failed find their way to first in the top of the second, with all three going down in succession. Thompson led off for the Lady Rebels in the top of the second with hard hit single to third base that found its way through the third basewoman’s legs, Bill Buckner style. Following a Fannin fly out, German hit a hard single to right field, which put women on first and second base. The inning came to a close when McLaughlin hit into a double play.

The Banks bats came alive in the top of the third, with lead off batter Toni Mullins hitting a single. Shelby Parsons followed with a single as well; Mullins was thrown out at second. Missy Dixon ended the inning when the Rebel robbed Franklin of a single with a diving catch, and completed the double play with a one handed flip to first.

The bottom of the third provided some extracurricular excitement. After a lead off ground out, Mallory Deal took first due to “catcher interference;” however, the Banks head coach became visibly upset and repeatedly exclaimed, “That’s an automatic call.” Golden hit a single that dropped in the hole between third and left field. Morgan Ross was brought in as a courtesy runner for Golden, but was thrown out at second when Dixon hit a single. Dixon and Deal scored on Ashley Watkins two run double, making the score 7-0 in Fannin’s favor. A Fannin fly out finished the inning.

In the top of the fourth, the Lady Leopards failed to leap on opportunity. With two outs, Hayley Warner hit a line drive double to left field, followed by a live drive single to left from Taylor Kennedy. However, with women on first and third, Morgan Cox’s ground out brought up the Fannin offense.

Fannin began the fourth with a fly out; however, German reached base with a double to left. McLaughlin’s RBI single made the score 8-0. Two ground outs ended the scoring for the day.

The Leopards last three batters all ground out in the top of the fifth inning and the Lady Rebels retired with a 8-0 win.