Score Atlanta
The Pope Greyhounds are riding Kelly Barnhill all the way to Columbus. After pitching both games of a first-round sweep at the expense of West Forsyth, Barnhill did the same last week against Collins Hill. With a spot in Class AAAAAA’s double-elimination tournament in Columbus at stake, Barnhill befuddled the Eagles en route to 4-0 and 2-1 victories.
Barnhill improved to 25-5 on the season thanks to her two defeats of the defending state champions. She is sporting an incredible 0.50 ERA to go along with more than 450 strikeouts. The senior got just enough help in the second game against Collins Hill when Lindsey Monkiewicz hit a walk-off, series-ending single that scored Hannah Rogers from third base.
Joining Pope in the last eight is Brookwood, but not before perhaps the most entertaining series of the entire second round took place. The Broncos won their first game against South Forsyth 1-0 last Wednesday, lost the second 3-2, then survived another one-run game 2-1 in last Thursday’s decider. Amanda Ablan tossed a complete game and got the final out with her ninth strikeout, as South Forsyth’s potential tying runner was left on third base.
Pope will open with Harrison on Thursday, while Brookwood is set to go up against East Coweta.
Whereas Collins Hill missed out on a spot in Columbus for the first time in five years, Class AAAA powerhouse Buford kept its streak alive. The Wolves punched their ticket to the double-elimination format for the ninth consecutive season. They destroyed St. Pius X by scores of 11-0 (five innings) and 12-0 (four innings) last Wednesday to easily sweep through the best-of-three series. Bria Bush picked up the win in Game 1 before Tessa Daniels got a rare start and dominated in similar fashion during the clincher. Daniels helped her own cause by ripping a three-RBI double.
In Class AAA, Blessed Trinity had snagged the No. 1 seed out of Region 4 ahead of runner-up Westminster, but it is the Wildcats who are going to Columbus while the Titans are at home. Westminster benefited from a second straight home series in the playoffs, as a No. 4 seed—Appling County—had ousted Region 2 No. 1 seed Rutland in the opening round. The Wildcats won a decisive Game 3 by a 5-3 decision last Thursday after stranding Appling County with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. Blessed Trinity, meanwhile, went down to Pierce County by scores of 8-6 and 5-0.
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