After accomplishing their first preseason goal of winning a softball region championship last week, Dalton's Lady Catamounts took the first step Tuesday night toward realizing their second - making it to the state Elite Eight.
The Lady Cats swept Alpharetta 13-1 and 10-1 at home in the first round of the GHSA Class AAAAAA playoffs.
Dalton (22-10) came out on fire offensively in the first game. After giving up a run in the top of the first, the Lady Cats scored five each in the bottom of the first and second innings to build a 10-1 advantage and cruise to victory in four innings.
"I was really proud of them tonight," Lady Cats coach Stacy Parker said. "When we got up in those first two innings, I could just see that they wanted it. These last two weeks are the best we've hit the ball all season, and our pitchers were phenomenal."
The Lady Cats were led in that game by Sydney Ault, who went 2-for-2 with a walk, three RBIs and three runs scored. Olivia Whaley also went 2-for-2, with a home run and two RBIs, while senior Elly Souther got the win in the circle.
Game two looked like a repeat performance, as Dalton jumped out to a five-run lead through two innings.
The Lady Raiders (10-15) - the home team in the second game - mounted their biggest threat of the night in the bottom of the third inning, loading the bases with just one out.
That's when Parker again turned to Souther, who got out of the jam with only one run allowed and mowed down the last seven Lady Raiders she faced for the game, five via strikeouts. She finished the night tossing 6 2/3 innings, while giving up just one run on two hits and two walks and striking out eight.
Back-to-back homers in the top of the fourth by Brooke Belflower and McCall Maret effectively wrapped up the second win and sent the Lady Cats on to the second round to face Northgate at home next week.
Contact Kevin Llewallyn at sports@timesfreepress.com