New Classification, same story for Gordon Lee

photo Gordon Lee's Meghan O'Toole slides safely into home during the Lady Trojans' GHSA Class AA playoff series sweep over Rabun County on Wednesday Chickamauga, Ga.

CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. - Gordon Lee entered a new classification with a number of new opponents, but the story continues to be the same.

Stepping up to Class AA in Georgia softball, four-time consecutive Class A champion Gordon Lee began its postseason road in the same fashion as the past four years, this time carving up visiting Rabun County 9-1 and 13-0 in its AA state tournament-opening series.

"I think we played well all-around," Lady Trojans coach Dana Mull said after the twin-killing. "We came out and scored early and continued to do so throughout the game."

And when Rabun County made a competitive stab, Gordon Lee responded.

"When they hit that homer in the first game we came back and scored five runs, which was good to see."

In each game, Gordon Lee wasted little time, making a statement in its opening at-bat. They scored one run in the first inning of the opening game and three in the second game's first inning.

"We like to make that statement early. If we can get Tiffany (Holland) on and bring her around we'll do it," Mull said of the Lady Trojans' early bunting. "We want to score in that first inning whether it's bunting or hitting away. I think it's big for us to score in that first inning."

Holland bunted her way on in the very first at-bat, stole second and was then sacrifice-bunted to third by Reagan Brown before scoring on another bunt, this one a single from Courtland Middleton.

In the second game when they scored three first-inning runs, Holland and Brown singled before Middleton bunted to score Holland. Meghan O'Toole added an RBI on a groundout to the right side and Shay Wooten and Melissa Duran followed with RBI singles.

Middleton had a 3-for-3, three-RBI effort in the first game and O'Toole, Holland and Brown each had two hits.

In the second game, Holland went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and Taylor and Middleton added two hits to the Lady Trojans' 14-hit effort.

Pitcher Emily Armour picked up her 19th and 20th wins on the year by allowing just one run and two hits in seven innings. She had a two-game total of 13 strikeouts.

Canaan Burnette finished both games.

"We wanted both to pitch ahead in the count, and they did that. Each did a good job," Mull said. "We wanted to give both some work. You don't know what the situation is going to be down the road, and it's nice to have two in which you have confidence."

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.

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