Lee County to face South Effingham in elimination game

COLUMBUS — They entered the postseason holding the top two spots in the GHSA power rankings. Friday, one will send the other home.

Lee County faces South Effingham at 1:15 p.m. in a Class 6A state softball elimination game at the South Commons Softball Complex. The Lady Trojans, who began the postseason ranked second, are 31-4. The top-ranked Mustangs are 29-3.

For both, the margin for error is gone.

Lee County dropped into the elimination bracket Thursday with a 12-0 loss to Lassiter, a day after rallying past Pope 11-4 in its tournament opener. South Effingham lost to Houston County on Wednesday before beating Loganville on Thursday to keep its season alive.

The winner of Friday’s matchup will face either Houston County or Veterans — familiar Region 2-6A opponents for Lee County — in another elimination game.

First, the Lady Trojans must recover from an afternoon when Lassiter supplied nearly all the offense.

Ward hit two home runs and drove in five runs as Lassiter collected 14 hits. The first homer, a two-run shot to left field in the second inning, put Lee County behind. RBI contributions from Hewitt and Mitchell extended the lead in the third.

This time, the Lady Trojans could not produce the response that had carried them past Pope.

Lassiter starter Aly Batroff scattered six hits over six scoreless innings without issuing a walk. She did not record a strikeout, relying on a defense that finished without an error.

Kennady Patrick provided Lee County’s strongest offensive performance, going 3-for-3.

But the Lady Trojans could not turn their opportunities into runs, and Lassiter pulled farther away. A five-run seventh inning included Mitchell’s two-run double and Ward’s second homer, a three-run drive to right.

Six Lassiter players finished with two hits apiece: Mitchell, Ushery, K. Batroff, Stewart, Ward and Hewitt. Lassiter also stole five bases, including two by Hewitt.

Tina Benton took the loss for Lee County, allowing six runs on nine hits over five innings. She struck out two and walked one.

The defeat leaves Lee County facing a demanding route through the remaining field. Its next opponent arrived in Columbus with the state’s highest power ranking. Beyond that, a region rival awaits.

The Lady Trojans have already demonstrated their ability to answer a difficult start in this tournament, erasing a 4-1 deficit against Pope behind two Jaydynne Frisbee home runs and another from Patrick.

Friday requires another response.

The rankings brought Lee County and South Effingham into the postseason as the top two teams. Their meeting will determine which one gets another game.