Gordon Lee and Heritage both experienced seventh-inning drama on the opening day of the GHSA fastpitch softball state tournaments in Columbus.
Only one of those games, however, turned out well for the local team Wednesday.
Gordon Lee’s Lady Trojans, after getting out to a 4-0 lead, had to rally from a run down in the seventh inning to top Pike County 6-5 in Class AAA. In AAAA, West Laurens hit a walk-off home run to defeat Heritage 2-1, putting the Lady Generals one loss from elimination.
The Lady Trojans (25-5) were cruising against Pike after scoring a run on Ella Grace Hixon’s two-out single in the fifth inning and three more in the sixth on Gracie Helton’s leadoff home run and Kate Chambers’ two-run homer.
Pike County (20-13), however, loaded the bases in the bottom half with one out and scored on a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly to cut the Lady Trojans’ advantage to two. The lead evaporated moments later when Lily Alpough hit a three-run homer.