Softball RoundUp: Lee Co., DWS, Monroe take region wins

LEESBURG — The Lee County Lady Trojans have put themselves in the driver’s seat in Region 2-6A.

Now comes the stretch that will determine whether they stay there.

Lee County strengthened its hold on first place Tuesday with a 5-3 victory over second-place Coffee, improving to 20-2 overall and 13-1 in region play.

Coffee is 10-4 in the region, while Veterans remains in contention at 7-3. Lee County travels to Douglas for a doubleheader against Coffee on Thursday before playing another region doubleheader at Veterans next week. Those four games will go a long way toward deciding the region championship and the top seed for the Class 6A state playoffs.

Porter Butler sparked Lee County’s 10-hit attack, going 3-for-3 with a double and two singles while also drawing a walk.

Butler led off the bottom of the second with a double to center field, and Tina Benton followed with a walk. One out later, Brylyn Parsons doubled to center, scoring both runners and giving the Lady Trojans a 2-0 lead.

Coffee tied the game in the third when Brown doubled down the left-field line, but Lee County responded immediately.

Butler opened the bottom half with a walk, and Benton followed with a double to left. Makinley Duke then drove another double to the fence in left, helping the Lady Trojans reclaim the lead at 4-2.

Lee County added its final run in the fourth. Izzy Evans tripled to the fence in center field, and Butler brought her home with a line-drive single to left.

Benton went the distance in the circle, allowing eight hits and three unearned runs over seven innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked three. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Parsons finished with two RBIs, and Lee County turned one double play behind Benton.

Brown took the loss for Coffee after allowing five runs on 10 hits over six innings. She struck out four and walked two.

Curington powers Deerfield-Windsor past Central Fellowship

Jennings Curington collected three hits and repeatedly delivered with runners in scoring position as Deerfield-Windsor defeated Central Fellowship Christian Academy 16-8 on Tuesday.

The Lady Knights took control with three runs in the third inning and broke the game open with six more in the fourth.

Emily Phillips doubled home two runs in the third, and Curington added a sacrifice fly to put Deerfield-Windsor ahead 8-6.

Claire Hockman drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, an error brought home another run, Curington lined a two-run single and Aubrey Ross tripled home two more.

Curington also delivered RBI singles in the second and fifth innings. She finished with three hits and two stolen bases.

Phillips joined Curington with three hits, while Hockman and Reynolds Bryson each collected two. Marin Anthony opened the scoring with an RBI double in the first, and Anna Beth Brady drew two of Deerfield-Windsor’s five walks.

“We cut our errors down from the previous game,” Deerfield-Windsor coach Dwayne Suggs said. “Our pitchers continue to get better in the circle by limiting the number of walks that we have allowed in the past. Thirteen hits with some small-ball stuff was the key to our offensive success. It was a good region win for our kids.”

Ross earned the win after pitching the first two innings. Mary Ruth Courtney worked three innings in relief, allowing two hits and two unearned runs while striking out three without issuing a walk.

Deerfield-Windsor finished with 13 hits and will host Southwest Georgia STEM Charter on Monday.

Harvey drives in seven as Monroe tops Westover

Glendalys Harvey drove in seven runs as Monroe defeated Westover 31-12 in a high-scoring matchup Tuesday.

Harvey went 3-for-4 with a triple and two doubles. She delivered a three-run triple and a two-run double during Monroe’s 13-run first inning, then added another run-scoring double in the third.

Trinity Toomer contributed a two-run double in the opening inning, while Ariya Lee added an RBI single. Layla Clay drove in runs with a bases-loaded walk and a groundout.

Monroe added 10 runs in the fifth inning. Jamiya Duhart was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and later doubled home two runs. Raquel Timley added an RBI single, and Michadden Anderson brought home another run with a groundout.

Duhart pitched all five innings for the Tornadoes, striking out eight. She allowed nine hits and 12 runs, seven earned, while walking two.

Monroe collected nine hits, drew 16 walks and stole six bases. Ariya Lee led the Tornadoes with four walks, while Harvey stole two bases.

Westover scored six runs in the fourth inning. Morgan Polite doubled home two runs, and Janiyah Winslow followed with a three-run double. Winslow and Polite each finished with three RBIs, while Sydney Donaldson, Winslow, Lauren Edwards and Timeria Neal collected two hits apiece.