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Habersham Central’s Hailee Parham (left) and Karsen Wade pump each other up before the inning begins. LANG STOREY/Staff
The Lady Raiders' softball team entered play Thursday tied with Lanier and Shiloh for the fourth spot in the region. They hosted Shiloh for a crucial doubleheader after press time Thursday that could make or break their postseason chances.
After dropping the first game against Lanier on Tuesday and facing another four-run deficit, it looked like Habersham Central’s softball season was spiraling toward a bitter end.
But the Lady Raiders had fight in them yet, scoring five runs in the sixth inning and holding on for a 6-5 win to split the doubleheader and stay within reach of the fourth playoff spot in Region 8-6A.
“We were about to crawl into a deep hole there, but it’s a credit to these girls that they fought back,” Lady Raiders coach Karly Thompson said. “That was instrumental if we were going to stay in the hunt at all.”
The Lady Raiders (4-14, 3-6 Region 8-6A) came to life after 11 rough innings Tuesday to save their season, as Karsen Wade started the rally with a leadoff walk. With one out, Hailee Parham singled to put runners on first and third. Charli Barbour doubled to score Wade and move Parham to third.
With two outs, Ella Diffenderfer hit an RBI single to make it 5-3. Her sister Emily followed with another RBI single to keep the line moving and cut the deficit to a single run.
Hannah Odum stepped up and drilled another single and Ella scored on an error to tie the game. Shelby Rinefierd smoked a line drive to third and reached on an error, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
Odum was able to close the game out on the mound and give the Lady Raiders hope to keep their playoff flame lit.
“It’s not easy to lose as much as we have, but these girls come to practice hard every day and keep putting in the work,” Thompson said. “At the beginning of the season, the ball did not bounce our way much and we had some close losses. This was really the first close game we have won all year.”
Habersham dropped Game 1 by a 9-1 score. Rinefierd drove in the lone run for the Lady Raiders with an RBI single that scored Emily Diffenderfer, who had two hits in the game from the leadoff spot.
The Lady Raiders entered play Thursday tied with Lanier and Shiloh for the fourth spot in the region. They hosted Shiloh for a crucial doubleheader after press time Thursday that could make or break their postseason chances.
“We pretty much have to sweep them to keep our hopes alive,” Thompson said.