Results mixed so far for Lady ’Neers

CHATSWORTH — Coming into this season, North Murray’s softball team knew two things — it wouldn’t have to replace any starters and the competition was about to get a lot tougher.

In just their second year of existence and their first season of varsity competition, the Lady Mountaineers have suffered from the usual growing pains, but they have also experienced a fair amount of success.

North Murray is 4-7 overall, though it slipped to 0-5 in Sub-region 7B-2A play on Tuesday with a 15-0 loss to Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe that was shortened to four innings by the mercy rule. But never mind that loss to LFO, which is ranked seventh in Class 3A in the latest Ga.PrepCountry.com coaches poll. The Lady Mountaineers are focused on building and the future.

Despite a 12-5 record last year against junior varsity competition, the team knew it faced an uphill battle in 2010 in a sub-region that includes perennial postseason contenders Calhoun, LFO and Dade County. While it has been uphill for the Lady Mountaineers, there have been plenty of successes.

Earlier this year, North Murray finished second in the Temple Showdown, showing that it can compete with some of the top programs in the state, though they haven’t won a game since that tournament. The dualism is puzzling to coach Lestine Hensley.

“Consistency has been a problem,” Hensley said. “We know that we are in the tougher side of the region, but playing better teams will only make you better. But it is a work in progress. Our record may not be what we would like, but we have steadily gotten better.”

The Lady Mountaineers have plenty of hurdles to overcome without being stuck in one of the harder sub-regions in the state. North Murray has no seniors on the roster and just three juniors. Two freshmen start in the outfield.

Still, Hensley has seen improvement and progress from the start of Year 2.

“Even tryouts this year were 10 times better than how we ended the season last year,” she said.

“They are a whole step ahead from where they were. We are just trying to get them to see that they are working toward bigger and better things. They are just the start.”

They might be the beginning, but that doesn’t mean that this year’s team isn’t hungry for the success that comes with the hard work. Freshman Samantha Stafford doesn’t have much patience.

“I know that we are a work in progress, but we have to do better and work harder,” Stafford said. “We will be the first varsity team and we are trying to build a legacy here, but we are disappointed we aren’t winning more.”

Cara Tucker, a sophomore pitcher and third baseman, agreed.

“I think that we have made a lot of improvements from last year, but I have no doubt that we are a better team than our record,” Tucker said. “We have more talent than last year. I thought we were going to be pretty good, but coming up from varsity has been a big difference.”

• Dalton 5 Cedartown 4 (8 innings): Dennise Cisneros drove in Allie Blackwood in the top of the eighth to push the Lady Catamounts past the Lady Bulldogs.

With the score tied 3-3 after seven innings, Blackwood hit a single that scored Destinee Woods, who was at second to start the inning, per international tiebreaker rules. A Cedartown player misplayed the ball, allowing Blackwood to get to third base.

Cisneros’ basehit gave Dalton (3-5, 3-2 in Region 7-3A) a 5-3 lead. The Lady Bulldogs scored a run in the bottom of the fifth, but could not level the score.

Blackwood also picked up the complete-game win, giving up five hits and striking out three batters. Cisneros and Blackwood each contributed two hits.

• Softball coaches from Murray County and Southeast Whitfield did not report results from Tuesday’s games.

Varsity cross country

• North Murray placed third in both boys and girls competition against Gilmer, Fannin County and Murray County.

In the boys race, North Murray’s Isaac Pacheco won the 5K with a time of 20 minutes, 42 seconds. Other top finishers for the Mountaineers were Ismael Cruz (third, 23:36) and Jesus Cruz (sixth, 23:54).

In the girls race, Vanessa Carlos (29:57), Veronica Miguel (30:40) and Kerstin Amos (33:24) were North Murray’s top finishers.

Murray County coaches did not report results.

Varsity volleyball

• Christian Heritage emptied its bench by the second game of a 25-9, 25-14, 25-19 victory in non-region play at Georgia Cumberland. The Lady Lions improved to 4-0 with the victory.

• Northwest Whitfield’s match at Sequoyah with Pope and the host Lady Chiefs was postponed until Sept. 27.

Middle school softball

• Westside 6, New Hope 5: Sydney Bennett drew a bases-loaded walk, bringing in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to lead the Lady Rockets to the win.

Shelbe Dilbeck had two hits for Westside (2-0) and McCall Carlock added a triple. Kala Franks was the winning pitcher, recording five strikeouts.

Miranda Bates had two triples for New Hope (1-1), while Kylee Ward, Jamison Payne, and Emily Banks each added two hits.

• North Whitfield 15, Valley Point 9: Cayla Plott had three hits and drove in three runs as the Lady Pioneers toped the Lady Green Waves.

LaShay Hedden also had three hits for North Whitfield (1-1), while Nikki Hollis picked up the win inside the circle.

Valley Point (0-2) was led by Brook Hasty, who had three hits, including a home run.

• Gladden 16, Eastbrook 1: The Lady Warriors used the mercy rule to end a win over the Lady Mustangs after three innings.

Lindsey Dunn pitched all three, allowing four walks and one hit while striking out five batters for Gladden (3-1).

Shea Pendley had two hits, including a home run and two RBIs, and Aubrie Osborne added two hits for the Lady Warriors. Whitney Gribble and Paxton Dolly each drove in a run.

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