Lakeside softball comes on strong

A No. 1 state ranking in the pre-season has earned significant attention for Greenbrier softball.

But Lakeside issued a statement to the top-ranked Wolfpack and the rest of Region 2-AAAA by dismantling Evans Thursday, 11-1, in six innings.

The win was the second of the week against a county foe. The Panthers drilled Harlem, 10-2, last Wednesday.

"We are very young," Lakeside coach Jay Matthews about a team with no seniors. "But the freshman have stepped up and we are playing good right now. We aren't making many mistakes."

The Panthers jumped out with three runs in the first, advancing runners off three passed balls.

Lakeside added three more in the third on a based loaded walk to Audrey Blackman and a two-run single by Mira Wattar.

"They got out quick and capitalized on our errors," Evans coach Colette Cassedy said, referring to the Knights' four errors. "We played about as bad as we could, but they are a real good team."

Although the Panthers added five more runs, Andrea Batchelor hardly needed them.

Batchelor pitched four strong innings, yielding only one run on three hits.

"(Batchelor) pitched great, but no matter how far ahead or behind we were, she was only pitching four innings," Matthews said. "We had a plan and we stuck with it. I want to see everybody in different situations."

Matthews had the luxury because the game was a non-region contest, despite both schools being in Region 2-AAAA.

"It was a good opportunity for our girls to play against a team as good as Lakeside this early in the season," Cassedy said. "Plus we get a chance to see a region team without counting the region loss."

Next Up: Lakeside at Oconee County, Thursday. Evans at Jones County, Friday.