Fall Sports: Broncos pitcher 4-0 in tourney

By MICHAEL CARVELL

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Brookwood is an early favorite as one of the top contenders for the Class AAAAA softball championship.

Sophomore pitcher Brandi Jones posted a 4-0 record as the Broncos won the Hawk/Bulldog Invitational. Jones posted a 0.33 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 21 innings. She has a 6-1 record, with her only loss to archrival Collins Hill.

“She takes control in the circle and nothing seems to bother her,” Brookwood coach Bill Batchelor said. “She gives us a chance to win every game we play.”

Brookwood’s offense was ignited in the invitational by leadoff hitter Jessica Neidigh, who had a .579 average with three stolen bases and seven runs scored.

More softball

● Collins Hill pitcher Kayla Floor will threaten all of the school’s single-season records, according to coach Billy Dooley. Floor is 6-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 38 innings. She has five shutouts, while striking out 42 and walking two.

● Archer’s Alliyah Williams was the winning pitcher in each of the first four games for the new Gwinnett school. She has a 0.74 ERA and 31 strikeouts. Williams also has a .455 batting average.

● Meadowcreek freshman Casey Pottle struck out eight batters in three innings of a 16-1 win over Clarkston.

● Mountain View, another new Gwinnett school, is led by catcher Breannah McCrary, who hit .538 with three triples in the season’s opening week.

● Berkmar third baseman Queen Briggs is a freshman to watch. She reached base in every at-bat during the team’s past two games and also stole three bases.

● Peachtree Ridge outfielder Gaby Bedard, who played a major role in helping the team reach the state semifinals twice in three seasons, is off to a stellar start with a .538 average.

● Mill Creek shortstop Chandler Griffin leads the team in hitting, RBIs and runs scored.

Volleyball

● Collins Hill sophomore setter Katherine Ashlswede seems to get better with age. She is on pace to break the school record of 583 assists, which she set last season as a freshman.

● Peachtree Ridge’s Brynna Robinson has been flourishing as a senior. She had 67 assists and five aces in two days of matches. Said coach Sarah Eales, “She makes plays out of passes that look impossible.”

● Grayson senior Kelly Mohr has made the successful transition to libero from outside hitter. She leads the team in aces with seven and digs with 30. Said Grayson coach Kim Mohr, “Kelly’s consistency has helped our team maintain stability in the midst of inevitable early-season jitters.”

Cross country

● Brookwood’s Caroline Kissel might be the team’s most improved runner, with the sophomore setting several personal records this season. Sarah Perry, Haley Carson and Anakaren Lopez are also turning in faster times than last year.

● Mill Creek’s Steven Zwick ran more than 700 miles preparing for the season.