Staff Reports

PINEHURST—The Fullington Academy softball team has advanced to the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association’s Fall softball league championship game for the second season in a row with their series win over Covenant Academy in the semifinals on Tuesday. They swept a series from Griffin Christian last Saturday in the first round before winning Tuesday’s semifinal series over Covenant with wins of 12-2 and 15-2.

Lady Trojans 12, Covenant 2

Fullington took a commanding 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in Tuesday’s first game. The inning featured an RBI triple from Ella McGalliard, an RBI single by Parker Wall, and a double by Claire Thompson that resulted in three runs scoring.

The Lady Trojans next tacked on a run in the second and one more in the third for an 8-0 lead. Carlee Roberts provided the RBI hit in the second frame allowing Parker Wall to score, and Thompson pushed the eighth run across with an RBI groundout in the third.

Covenant pulled a run back in the top of the fourth inning, but the Lady Trojans scored four more runs in the bottom half to put the game away. Parker Wall and Roberts had the RBI hits in the inning.

Covenant scored one final run in the top of the fifth, but it was not nearly enough as Fullington won by the 12-2 score line in run-rule fashion.

Parker Wall led the batting lineup for Fullington in game one with three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored. Thompson had four RBIs and two hits in the contest, while McGalliard, Roberts and Lauren Rucker all finished with two hits apiece.

Sarah Kate Wall was the winning pitcher in the game for Fullington with five innings pitched, two runs allowed on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts.

Lady Trojans 15, Covenant 2

Fullington scored five runs in the first inning of game two to again take control early. Parker Wall knocked in the first two runs with an RBI triple, Maddie McLeod pushed across the third run with a bunt RBI single, and Rucker sent the last two runs of the inning in with an RBI double.

After Covenant made the score 5-1 with a run in the second inning, the Lady Trojans piled on three more runs to their lead in the fourth frame highlighted by a two-run home run from McGalliard. Fullington led 8-2 at the end of the fourth inning after Covenant had pulled one run back in the bottom half of the frame.

A seven-run top of the fifth inning from the Lady Trojans put the game out of reach and led to another run-rule shortened win.

Rucker hit a home run in the inning, while Marley Jones, Sarah Kate Wall, Parker Wall and McLeod all added RBI hits later in the frame for the 15-2 final score.

Game two batting lineup stats: 1. Jones- three hits, three runs scored, one RBI 2. Sarah Kate Wall- one hit, two RBIs, one run 3. McGalliard- home run, two RBIs 4. Parker Wall- two hits, three RBIs, two runs scored 5. Roberts- one hit, two runs scored 6. McLeod- three hits, three RBIs, one run 7. Rucker- two hits, three RBIs, one run 8. Thompson- one run scored 9. Mackenzie Rogers- one hit, two runs scored

Stats were provided by Fullington Academy softball GameChanger account.

The Lady Trojans will now play in the state championship series on Saturday, October 20, looking to defend their title from last season. Their opponent and game location is still uncertain as the other semifinal series, between Citizens Christian Academy and last season’s state runner-up David Emanuel, is still to be completed on Tuesday afternoon.