SOFTBALL RANKINGS, NOTEBOOK

Check out today's SHSSN for the latest and greatest in high school softball. Also, see who won our first Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Female Athlete of the Week award!

In This Issue

Trivia

Softball rankings

Softball notebook

Rankings Rundown

Top Stories

Trivia

Question:

How many aces did Walton's Celeste Fitzgerald have in the Raiders' sweep over Pope last week?

Today's answer can be found in the newsletter!

Monday's Answer:

Woodward Academy running back Elijah Holyfield took carries on 24 consecutive snaps on Friday.

SOFTBALL RANKINGS

WEEK 4

Class AAAAAA

1. Lassiter
2. Collins Hill

3. Brookwood
4. Archer
5. Harrison
6. Kennesaw Mountain

7. Hillgrove

8. North Gwinnett

9. Lambert

10. North Cobb

Class AAAAA

1. Ola

2. Northgate
3. Woodland-Henry
4. Greenbrier
5. Effingham County
6. Creekview
7. South Effingham
8. Allatoona
9. Cambridge
10. Evans

Class AAAA

1. Buford
2. Heritage-Catoosa
3. Walnut Grove
4. Wayne County
5. Madison County
6. Whitewater
7. Marist
8. Mary Persons
9. Carrollton

10. Perry

Class AAA

1. Central-Carrollton
2. Calhoun

3. Ringgold
4. Rockmart

5. Pierce County
6. Blessed Trinity
7. Dodge County
8. Morgan County
9. Westminster
10. Decatur

Class AA
1. Gordon Lee

2. Harlem
3. Wesleyan

4. Heard County
5. Berrien
6. Bryan County
7. Jeff Davis
8. Armuchee
9. Social Circle

10. Seminole County

Class A-Private

1. Prince Avenue Christian

2. ELCA

3. First Presbyterian Day
4. Mount Vernon Presbyterian
5. Strong Rock Christian

6. Brookstone

7. Savannah Christian
8. George Walton Academy
9. Athens Christian
10. Mount Pisgah Christian

Class A-Public

1. Georgia Military
2. Schley County

3. Commerce

4. Hawkinsville
5. Echols County
6. Treutlen
7. Charlton County

8. Mt. Zion-Carroll
9. Telfair County
10. Baconton Charter

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Tuesday, September 16, 2014

SOFTBALL NOTEBOOK

By Ricky Dimon

Mill Creek, Wesleyan win major showdowns

Skylar Hayward threw a no-hitter while striking out seven

Phot courtesy Winder-Barrow HS

batters through eight innings of work in Mill Creek's 8-0 shutout of Region 7-AAAAAA rival Peachtree Ridge Thursday night. Additionally, Hayward went 2-for-2 at the plate and drove in a run. The Hawks also got two hits from Mikayla Rood and Kaylyn Anthony, who had a double, an RBI and two runs scored. They improved to 9-5-1 overall and 4-2 in region play.

In another Thursday showdown between region foes, Wesleyan hammered Greater Atlanta Christian 11-1 to stay undefeated at 4-0 in Region 6-AA competition. The game was called after five innings, which meant Wolves' starter Jameson Kavel did not have to work too hard despite going the distance on the mound. She struck out five and surrendered just three hits. Meredith DiStaci and Cassie Henning each drove in two runs and Alyssa Bedard contributed a triple. Greater Atlanta Christian scored its only run on a solo shot off the bat of Stephanie McIntosh.

Blessed Trinity gave Wesleyan a taste of its own blowout medicine in the form of a 13-1 rout on Saturday. The Wolves returned to their winning ways later in the day and improved to 12-3 overall by taking care of Stratford Academy 4-1. Henning fanned four hitters in a complete-game effort and DiStasi belted a two-out RBI double during a four-run third inning.

In Class AAAAAA, both North Gwinnett and Brookwood posted 8-0 victories last Thursday. Kylee Smith mowed down eight batters in five innings to lead North Gwinnett past Norcross. Emily Dennis and Allison Roach had two RBIs apiece for the Bulldogs. Brookwood rode ace Amanda Ablan (11-0) to an easy win over Dacula. Ablan struck out 11 and gave up only one hit in five innings.

An intriguing matchup between Region 5-A rivals and two of the top teams in Class A-Private is set for Thursday, when Mount Vernon Presbyterian goes up against Eagle's Landing Christian Academy. Mount Vernon Presbyterian will head into it on the heels of a long week in which it won games in quite contrasting styles. The Mustangs beat Strong Rock Christian 2-1 and Aquinas 3-0 while also powering past Landmark Christian 11-2 and North Springs 14-0 in addition to a 17-12 shootout loss against Dunwoody.

Both Lovett and St. Pius X fell to Murray County last Saturday. The Lions lost 8-6 and the Golden Lions lost 8-1. It was a long week for Murray County, which also endured setbacks against highly-ranked opponents Calhoun and First Presbyterian Day.

Walton captain helps her team with strong serve, impressive versatility

Walton captain Celeste Fitzgerald's strong serve isn't the only reason she is the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Girls Athlete of the Week. Fitzgerald changed roles this season from setter to libero, a change that incorporates varying skill sets from one to the other.

"I'm impressed with her leadership role in the changing process and her hard work to get better," said head coach Susanne Fitzgerald. "Multiple girls on the team are playing different positions this season and have stepped up selflessly and because of that, we have been more successful this season."

Veterans are definitely a minority for the Walton team this year, with only two seniors on board. However, the young squad is very in sync with each other, surprising their opponents with how fast and quick they play points, a style that is very tough for opponents to defend.

On and off the court, Fitzgerald shows the qualities of a leader. "Celeste has a strong personality and her confidence helps her teammates," explained Fitzgerald. "I'm impressed with her strength to step up to do the right thing, even if it's not the most popular decision."

This past week in a 2-0 sweep over Pope, the junior served up 12 aces in just 14 serve attempts as the Raiders rolled to a 25-14, 25-9 victory. In the All-City Play Date tournament in South Forsyth Saturday, the Lady Raiders played Johns Creek in a match they were more successful in than in last year's tournament. Even with a smaller and less-experienced team, the Raiders have shown strength in their willingness to work as a team, in order to become a squad of power rather than numbers.

"They genuinely like each other and get along so well as a team," said Fitzgerald.

The Raiders are currently 12-2 and ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAAA.

WEEK 4 SOFTBALL RANKINGS

By Ricky Dimon

Buford proves its worth in win over Lassiter

A battle between two top-ranked teams in the state lived up its billing last

Photo by Jennifer Stavro

Wednesday. Buford, the No. 1 squad in Class AAAA, scored a run in the seventh inning on a homer by Jordan Deep to beat Lassiter, No. 1 in Class AAAAAA, 2-1. It was the Trojans' first loss of the season. Buford, of course, maintains the top position in its classification while Lassiter is still hanging on ahead of Collins Hill and Brookwood.

Ola, the No. 1 team in Class AAAAA, lost to Woodland-Henry last week but then won four games in a row to stay atop the rankings. In Class A-Private, Prince Avenue Christian fell to Ringgold of Class AAA but still went 6-1 last week and maintained its hold on No. 1.

Lambert is a new arrival in the Class AAAAAA rankings at No. 9. Allatoona (eighth) and Cambridge (ninth) are now making appearances in the Class AAAAA top 10. Mary Persons surged to No. 7 in Class AAAA, having previously been unranked. Class AAA welcomes Morgan County (No. 8) and Westminster (No. 9) to the rankings. Bryan County (No. 6), Armuchee (No. 8) and Social Circle (No. 9) have made their way into the Class AA top 10.