Whitewater got started last Wednesday with a 7-4 win over Alexander.

Tess Echols drove in two runs in the game, while Lauren Moyer and Rachel

Taylor each drove in one in the win. Coach Stacey Smith also credited

Danielle Dickson, who was playing second base at the end of the game,

and Moyer for turning a game ending double play with runners in scoring

position as one of the game's highlights. The Lady Wildcats followed

the win with a 10-0 loss to Northgate. The Lady Vikings allowed no hits

and out-hustled Whitewater in the game.

Whitewater bounced back from the loss with a 5-1 win over Woodward Academy.

The Lady Wildcats scored four of their five runs in the second inning

thanks to doubles from Holman and Moyer and a triple from Echols. Dickson

earned the win and Jill Keller picked up the save. After the Woodward

win, Whitewater defeated McIntosh 2-0 with Dickson pitching a no hittter

and striking out three batters.

"Our pitchers have really helped us get where we are," said

Smith. "These two girls just started pitching last year and have

kept us in ball games all year long."

The Lady Wildcats luck ran out in the bottom of the seventh inning in

their game against Chapel Hill, the eventual region runners-up. Echols

went two-for-three at the plate and Dickson and Keller combined to only

alow three hits, but defensive errors late in the game proved costly.

"This is not an easy region and nobody rolls over," said Smith

of the competition in the region tournament. "I was impressed with

our win in the opening game and every thing afterwards has been icing

on the cake. This team plays with a lot of heart and they are not finished

yet."

Whitewater will open the state tournament at 4 p.m. Friday at Southern

Pines in Dublin. Their opponent will be Jones County and a win would

put them up against the winner of Lee County/Westside-Macon.

McIntosh will also open the state tournament at 4 p.m. playing against

Greenbrier. The Lady Chiefs defeated Woodward Academy in the opener 2-0.

Pitcher Morgan Kidd earned 10 strike outs and the runs were driven in

Hill and lost a close game, 3-2. Cory Lowe and Jocelyn Clarke drove in

the runs for McIntosh but the Lady Chiefs couldn't add more after

Chaepl Hill took a lead in the fifth inning. McIntosh's bats stayed

quiet in their 2-0 loss to Whitewater. If the Lady Chiefs defeat Greenbrier

they will take on the winner of Ware County/Henry County at 8 p.m.

Our Lady of Mercy finished third in the region 5-A tournament with wins

over Mt. Paran, Eagle's Landing Christian Academy and Landmark Christian,

while Landmark took fourth place, defeating Eagle's Landing Christian

and Whitefield Academy. Our Lady of Mercy will play Washington-Wilkes

at 6 p.m. at the softball complex on McDonough Road in Hampton, while

Landmark will play Georgia Military at 4 p.m. A Lady Bobcat win would

pit them against the winner of Hebron Christian Academy/Bowdon, while

a Landmark win will ave them face the winner of Jefferson/Trion.

For a more detailed look at the state tournament brackets, visit www.ghsa.net

Starr's Mill placed second in the region 4-AAAAA tournament to

East Coweta. The Lady Panthers opened with a 15-0 win over Lovejoy, followed

over Newnan, a 5-3 win over Union Grove, a 2-1 win over East Coweta and

a 3-2 loss to East Coweta in the region final. Starr's Mill will

open with a game against Redan at 4 p.m. Friday at the Hamilton Complex

in Tifton. A win would put them up against the winner of Groves and Coffee

at 8 p.m. Friday.

Visit www.thecitizennews.com this weekend for updates.