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SOFTBALL
FOOTBALL
Red Raider seniors Claire Strickland and Rylee Ernst share a laugh during a break in action this past
week. Photos by Zach Mitcham
On to round 2
Red Raiders
roll past Druid
Hills in first
round of state
Macey Echols celebrates after reaching base Saturday.
Madison County was never chal
lenged in round one of the Class
AAAA state softball playoffs, cruis
ing to blowout wins in a doubleheader
Tuesday in Danielsville over Druid
Hills.
Now, the Red Raiders (19-7) gear
up for the first of two possible road
trips to Columbus next week. Mad
ison County will travel to face the
Region 2 number-one seed Columbus
Blue Devils next week on the road in
round two of the playoffs. If the Red
Raiders take the best-of-three series,
they’ll trek back to Columbus the fol
lowing week for the eight-team finals.
The Red Raiders beat Druid Hills
13-0 in four innings, then topped the
visiting squad 21-2 in three innings
to claim the first-round win. Madison
County put up at least three runs on
the scoreboard in every inning they
batted Tuesday. In the first game, the
Red Raiders scored six in the first
inning, four in the second and three in
the third. In the second game, Mad
ison County posted 12 first inning
runs, followed by four in the second
and five in the third.
In game one, Riley Fulcher, Mary
Drayke Summers and Claire Strick
land each had multiple hits for the
Red Raiders. Summers had a triple,
along with Regan Dobbs. Riley Ful
cher, Reagan Fulcher and Strickland
each doubled. Riley Ernst stole two
bases and Macey Echols stole one.
The Red Raiders had 11 hits. Strick
land got the win, fanning seven batters
in three innings. Dobbs struck out two
in one inning.
In game two, the Red Raiders had
21 runs in just 20 at bats, with 12
walks and 11 hits. Marlenea Duncan
led Madison County with two hits.
Strickland had a double and Riley
Fulcher tripled. Riley Smith stole two
bases. Laterra Beasley, Macey Echols,
Reina Metzler and Skylar Minish each
stole one,
Strickland pitched her final inning
from the home circle during the sec
ond game Tuesday, fanning the side
in the first. Dobbs pitched the final
two innings.
Madison County had a chance to
grab the Region 8-AAAA crown and
home-field advantage in the second
See ‘Softball’ on 2B
Red Raiders to host
Chestatee Friday
Madison County hosts Chestatee Friday on Homecom
ing in a Region 8-AAAA showdown.
The Red Raiders (2-3) were off last week, while Ches
tatee won a shootout over East Hall, 62-50. The two
teams have one common opponent so far this season,
North Oconee, with both dropping the game by 28.
Chestatee has played in several high-scoring games,
averaging 34.5 points per game, while giving up 36.3 a
game. Meanwhile, the Red Raider matchups have been
lower scoring, with Madison County averaging 18.2
points per game and giving up 23.2 points a game.
Madison County will be back on the field for the first
time since suffering a heartbreaking, 27-20, overtime
loss to Cedar Shoals Oct 1.
The Red Raiders will host Flowery Branch Oct. 22,
then visit East Hall Oct. 29 and Jefferson Nov. 5.
REGION TOURNEY
The Red Raider volleyball team is slated to face
North Oconee (at Jefferson) for its first match of
the Region 8-AAAA tournament at 5 p.m., Thurs
day. Pictured is senior Ansley Lapczynski during
recent action.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
MCMS to host playoff
game Thursday
The Madison County Middle School football team capped
off its undefeated regular season last week with a 38-13 win
over Habersham Central.
The Mustangs, the area number-one seed, will host num
ber-four seed Stephens County at 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 14.
Eighth graders honored
The 2021 Madison County Middle School Mustangs softball team honored their eight grade players on Monday, September 27 and closed out their 2021 regular season
with a 9-3 record after hosting a double-header contest against Rabun County. With the dual wins against Rabun County, the Mustangs clinched the number one seed
ahead of the regional tournament. The nine eighth grade players recognized include (L-R) Annalee Hay, Tenley Haynes, Brooklyn Higgins, Ansley Mathis, Bailey Smith,
Paige Simmons, Anabelle Pullian, Ella Beard and Michaeala Cromer.