Ware County’s Lady Gators notched their first two wins Saturday in Cordele after struggling to an 0-4 start to the 2025 season.
The Lady Gators (24) were run-ruled for the third time in falling 8-0 to homestanding Appling County (3-0), ranked third in the first Top 10 poll, Tuesday (August 12) afternoon. Camden County (3-4) escaped with a 9-8 victory Thursday, August 14.
The Lady Gators notched their first two wins of the year Saturday, August 16 in Cordele at the Crisp County tournament beating Bainbridge 124 in four innings and Dodge County 4-2 in five innings.
Ware County hosted Brunswick Tuesday, August 19. The Lady Gators travel Wednesday, August 20 to Glynn Academy.
They wrap up the first month of the season traveling Monday, August 25 to Camden County and Wednesday, August 27 to Long County. Glynn County visits Thursday, August 28.
No. 3 Appling Co.8 Lady Gators........0
BAXLEY — The Lady Pirates scored all eight runs in their half of the first inning in beating Ware County.
Appling County sent 12 batters to the plate with nine reaching. The Lady Pirates also collected all of their hits in the frame.
“I am proud of the effort and staying focused for the remainder of the game after the tough first inning,” said head coach Rebecca Kirkland. “Even though the game was 8-0, the girls competed the remainder of the game. We did have some some quality at bats.”
A single, walk and three-run homer off a 2-0 offering from Mattie Forsyth (.2 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 0 K, 1 BB. 1 WP) gave the home team a quick 3-0 lead after just nine pitches. Appling County plated five runs after two outs with four consecutive runscoring hits.
Kayleigh LeMay allowed two hits and an unearned run in her 3.1 innings of relief. She fanned two and hit a batter.
Ware County picked up two of its three hits in the top of the second inning. Kallie Lairsey (1-for-2) led off with a single to right with Forsyth (1for-2) following with an infield hit.
Ella Musgrove reached on a oneout single in the third inning. Kara Coleman drew a two-out walk in the fourth for the only other Lady Gator base runner.
Camden County ....................9 Lady Gators ..........................8
Camden County did all of its scoring over two innings and then hung on in the seventh to pick up the win.
The Lady Gators scored twice in their half of the first inning. They loaded the bases on walks to Musgrove (1-for-3) and Ashlyn Jacobs (2-for-3) and a single by Amberley Padgett (2-for-4) to start the frame.
A run-scoring groundout by Lairsey and an error on a ball by Forsyth (1-for-4) plated the runs.
The Lady Wildcats scored five runs in the third inning against LeMay (7 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 4 R, 5 K, 2 BB, 2 WP) to grab a 5-2 lead.
Ware County matched the fiverun uprising with one of its own in the bottom of the fifth for a 7-5 lead. Musgrove, Jacobs and Padgett each singled loading the bases to start the inning.
Forsyth followed the first out with a run-scoring single and Coleman (1for-4) delivered a game-tying tworun double four pitches later. Addi Pittman’s (1-for-3) two-out, two-run single gave the Lady Gators a 7-5 lead.
Camden County answered with a four-run sixth to take a 9-7 lead.
The Lady Gators sliced the deficit to 9-8 in the bottom of the seventh on LeMay’s (2-for-3) two-out single scoring pinch-runner Maggie Mc-Quaig, who was inserted after Forsyth reached on a one-out error.
Lady Gators.........................12 Bainbridge............................4
CORDELE — The Lady Gators exploded for nine runs in their first at bat en route to knocking off Bainbridge for their first win of the season.
Ware County sent 14 batters to the plate collecting four hits (two singles, double, inside-the-park home run), two walks, two hit batters and being the recipient of three errors.
Lairsey was credited with the first RBI on a bases loaded error. Forsyth followed with a walk forcing home the second run. A passed ball increased the lead to 3-0.
Pittman (1-for-2) cleared the bases with an inside-the-park grandslam homer as the lead swelled to 70. Musgrove (1-for-2) ripped a runscoring double two batters later. Padgett (2-for-2) finished the rally with a run-scoring single.
Ware County added two runs in the second on a run-scoring triple by LeMay (1-for-1) and a sacrifice fly by Cassidy Lee for an 11-0 advantage.
The Lady Gators plated a final run in the third inning on Forsyth’s runscoring groundout.
Bainbridge pushed home four runs in the bottom of the fourth to avert the shutout.
Lady Gators ..........................4 Dodge County .......................2
CORDELE — Ware County scored its four runs over the last two innings with the game being called via “time limit” in the bottom of the fifth.
The Lady Squaws scored a run in the first on a two-out single against Forsyth (5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 K, 2 BB, 2 WP).
The Lady Gators evened the score in the bottom of the fourth on Forsyth’s (2-for-3) one-out single. Padgett led off the fourth reaching on a two-base error and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Lairsey. Forsyth’s stroked a 2-0 pitch scoring Padgett.
After Dodge County scored a run in the top of the fifth for a 2-1 lead, the Lady Gators came right back with three in the bottom of the inning.
Lauren Bell scored on a one-out, bases loaded wild pitch to tie the score at 2-apiece. Lairsey was hit one pitch later giving Ware County a 3-2 lead. An error on the ensuing pitch plated a final run. The bases were loaded with two outs when the game was called.
