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BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
Softball: Lady Leopards win two region games
Carley Segars makes a dash for home plate. Segars was able to make one run against the
Union County Lady Panthers on Tuesday.
By HANNAH CAUDELL
The Lady Leopards keep
hitting the competition out
of the park with three new
wins added to their record
this week.
This week, the Lady
Leopards will be facing off
against region opponent
Providence Christian in Lil
li urn on Tuesday, Sept. 26,
at 5 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Lady
Leopards will travel to Toc-
coa to go against the Ste
phens County Lady Indians
in a non-region matchup at
5 p.m.
The Lady Leopards won
against the Union County
Panthers at home on Tues
day with a score of 6-2. On
Thursday, the Lady Leop
ards beat the East Jackson
Eagles with a 14-point lead
of 15-1.
The Lady Leopards also
won 8-3 against a non-re
gion opponent, the East Hall
Lady Vikings, on Saturday
morning at home while rec
ognizing their senior, Car-
ley Segars, for their annual
Senior Night celebration.
The Lady Leopards now
have a 15-4 overall record
and currently hold the first
place spot in the Region
8AA tournament with a per
fect 5-0 record.
On Tuesday, the Lady
Leopards worked like a
well-oiled machine on the
field against the Union
County Lady Panthers.
Things started out rough
for the Lady Leopards after
a Panthers player made a
home run and a run batted
in (RBI), giving the Lady
Panthers two runs in the
first moments of the game.
However, the Lady Leop
ards didn’t seem to falter,
even after the first inning
ended with no runs for
them.
The Lady Leopards turned
the tide in their favor at the
bottom of the second with
strategic offensive plays on
bases. Allison Murphy and
Reese Murphy made a steal
and a run each, closing the
gap in the score against the
Lady Panthers.
Senior Carley Segars got
an RBI after her efforts at
the batter’s plate helped
Allison Murphy make the
first run. Segars also made
it to home plate at the bot
tom of the second inning,
giving the Lady Leopards
a lead they would maintain
throughout the game.
Allison Murphy would
once again return to home
plate at the bottom of the
third.
Dining the game against
the Panthers, she was cred
ited with the most runs.
The Lady Leopards hit an
offensive dry spell during
the fourth and fifth innings
of the game, but their defen
sive prowess was evident.
Pitcher Peyton Gaylor,
who struck out seven bat
ters during the Union Coun
ty game alone, gained two
of those outs during the
fifth inning. Gaylor also
made a memorable catch
after a Lady Panther bunt
ed the ball into the field.
Gaylor dove with glove out
stretched, covering her uni
form in dust as the ball fell
into her mit.
Short stop Mary Faulk
ner was credited with an
assist to first baseman Se
gars during the fourth in
ning, while Reese Murphy
and Tylee Strickland made
catches in the outfield.
The Lady Leopards so
lidified their victory in the
sixth and seventh innings.
Ryleigh Murphy made a
catch in the outfield in the
sixth, while Faulkner and
Gaylor assisted Segars at
first base.
Mackenzee Lewallen
and Josie Maney (courte
sy of Gaylor) made two
more runs at the bottom of
the sixth, giving the Lady
Leopards a four-point lead
of 6-2. At the top of the
seventh, Gaylor and Segars
prevented the Panthers from
evening the score with a
strike out and two catches.
Despite the disadvantage
in the beginning, the Lady
Leopards persevered and
won their fourth Region
8AA tournament game.
Against East Jackson and
East Hall, the team also
shone, especially on of
fense. Faulkner once again
led the team’s offensive ef
forts on the plates with three
doubles, five runs, and four
RBIs to add to her record.
Faulkner earned six hits in
10 total at bats for the week.
Allison Murphy also
joined in Faulkner’s efforts
with plays of her own.
Allison Murphy was
credited with four hits in
six at bats for the week, and
she earned four runs for the
team.
Pitcher Peyton Gaylor
pitched for 10 innings total
this week, and her expertise
allowed her to strike out 15
batters total. Gaylor only
gave up 5 hits, two earned
runs, and one walk.
Saturday was also a spe
cial game for Senior Carley
Segars, who was celebrated
for her dedication on the
team during the Lady Leop
ards’ annual Senior Night.
Segars has dedicated four
years to the high school
softball team, and boasts
many achievements on both
the softball and basketball
teams, including three ca
reer BLITZ Player of the
Week Awards. Segars is
also very involved in sup
porting the other teams at
Banks County, including
the Lady Leopards Volley
ball team and the Leopard
Football team.
Allison Murphy (left) and Carley Segars (right) celebrate on the held after their region victory against Union County.
Mary Faulkner assists Carley Segars at first base with a throw
to out a Union County runner.
Peyton Gaylor performs a serve against a Lady Panther bat
ter. Gaylor managed to strike out seven batters during the
Union County game on Tuesday, and she struck out 15 batters
total during the week.
Cross country senior recognition held
Banks County High
School cross country run
ners, Pepper Davis and
Camdyn Poole, were rec
ognized at the recent Senior
Night.
Camdyn has been a part
of the cross country pro
gram for three years. She
was also named All State in
Track and Field. She plans
to attend UNG in the fall
and major in physical edu
cation. Her goal is become
a teacher and encourage the
next generation of athletes.
Pepper has been part
of the cross country pro
gram for four years. He is a
multi-time All State athlete
in both Cross Country and
Track and Field. He plans
to attend college in the fall
and major in film. He also
wants to build a successful
T-shirt business and one day
become famous.
Senior Night was held for Cross Country runners Pepper Davis and Camdyn Poole.
See more sports
news on Page 8B
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