The last two years the Statesboro Blue Devils have been one step away from advancing to Columbus for the state elite eight, unfortunately the second round is once again where things would end for the Blue Devils, as they were swept out of the state playoffs by Walnut Grove losing game one 7-1, and game two 12-4.
“Walnut Grove was really prepared, they are a great softball team and very well coached,” said Statesboro coach Jim Simmons. “They have at least four real power bats in their lineup, their slap hitters are strong, and they have a couple pretty good pitchers. We gave our all, and I’m proud of the season our girls.”
Walnut Grove did something in game one that not many teams have been able to do all year, and that is to hit the ball hard off of Statesboro pitcher Brinson Anne Rogers. The Warrior hit two home runs, and shut down the Blue Devil bats for the most part as they took game one 7-1.
“Credit to Walnut Grove, as they have a fine team,” Simmons said. “But I don’t think they saw Brinson Anne at her best tonight. She didn’t have her best stuff in my opinion. She walked eight, and while she did have 12 strikeouts, she threw a lot of pitches, and just didn’t seem herself.”
The Warriors stranded a runner in first in the first inning, but made up for that with a solo home run in the second. Cassie Boatright took a Rogers fastball for a ride deep to leff as Walnut Grove opened a 1-0 lead.
In the third the Warriors added to their lead. With the bases loaded Grayson Perry singled to left, bringing one run in for a 2-0 lead. Rogers worked her way out of the bases loaded jam with a strikeout to leave the game at 2-0.
The Blue Devils finally scratched through for a run in the bottom of the fourth. Bailee Roberts singled, moved to second on an Avery Wiggins sacrifice bunt. Rogers got Roberts to third with a ground out to the pitcher, and then Lexi Tanner drove Roberts home with a single to right cutting the lead to 2-1.
The Warriors got that run back quickly in the top of the fifth as Nova Wright hit a solo home run to left, extending the lead to 3-1. The Warriors weren’t done scoring as Vanessa Wilson drove a two-run single to left for a 5-1 lead. Trinity Aycock added an RBI bloop single to left with the bases loaded to extend the lead to 6-1.
Rogers walked in a run in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded, then struck out the last two batters. The Blue Devils left five runners on base in the game.
The Blue Devils were able to start the scoring in game two. Tanner Kaiser and Bailee Roberts hit back-to-back singles to start the game. A Wiggins sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, and Brinson Anne Rogers brought the first run home with a fielder's choice to second for a 1-0 Statesboro lead.
Walnut Grove came right back in the bottom of the first as Grayson Perry hit a two-run homer to center for a 2-1 Warrior lead.
The Blue Devils came back to take the lead back in the second. With runners on second and third and two out, Jamiah Jones hit a hard shot to third that was then thrown into right field, allowing both runs to score for a 3-2 Statesboro lead.
Kinlee Carter pitched the second game, and kept the Warriors off balance for the first four innings, stranding a runner in scoring position in the second and third.
Statesboro added a run in the top of the fifth. Addison Helton led off the inning with a double, Roberts then hit a ball to third that was thrown away, allowing a run to score and extending the Blue Devil lead to 4-2.
The wheels came off for the Blue Devils in the bottom of the fifth, as the Warriors erupted for 10 runs. A two-run double by Cassie Boatright tied the game at 4-4. The Warriors then scored the go-ahead run on a squeeze bunt by Trinity Aycock to take a 5-4 lead. Walnut Grove would proceed to bat around with the finishing touch being an RBI single to center by Katie Doss, as they’d win by the run rule at 12-4.
“These seniors have done some great things in their time at Statesboro High,” Simmons said. “We will definitely miss all five seniors. They are great people, great teammates, and are great players as well.”
One of the keys to Statesboro’s four-year run in the state has been the pitching of All-State senior Brinson Anne Rogers, who Simmons knows will be almost impossible to replace.
“It’s tough to see her leave Statesboro High, but I know she’s off to bigger and better things in college,” Simmons said. “It’s been a pleasure to coach her, and see her grow as a competitor throughout these four years.”
Statesboro ends the season with a record of 22-9.
