In a season that Southeast Bulloch has made primarily about power pitching and aggressive, small-ball offense, one of its biggest bats made some noise when they needed it most.
    Squaring off against Monticello in the first round of the state playoffs last week, junior catcher Effie Manahan supplied most of the offense in the Lady Yellow Jackets’ two-game sweep.
    Trailing 2-1 in the first game, Manahan blasted a two-run home run to give her team a lead that it never relinquished.
    “At first, I didn’t think it was going out,” said Manahan. “I just ran hard in case in dropped, but then got excited when I rounded first and saw the outfielders standing at the fence.”
    After SEB took the first game, Manahan picked her team up again in Game 2. She lined an RBI single to give the Jackets a 1-0 first inning lead and later added some insurance with an RBI double. The Jackets won the second game to advance to the second round of the state playoffs.
    “Effie works harder on her hitting than anyone,” said SEB coach Aimee Civalier. “She’s one of the leaders on this team and she really got us going.”