By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

SPRING GARDEN – Cherokee County High School softball coach Brad Weaver said the Lady Warriors have anxiously awaited the 2024 season. He said being eliminated from last year’s Class 4A state tournament has fueled their fire throughout the off-season.

“I’m excited to see where this season will take us,” Weaver said.

One of their first big tests of the new season came on Wednesday and Thursday in the Cherokee County Tournament, and they passed it with flying colors.

The defending county champions opened tournament play on Wednesday with a dominating 12-3 victory against Spring Garden, sending them to Thursday’s winners bracket against Sand Rock.

The Lady Warriors scored five runs in the bottom of the second inning, en route to an 8-1 victory that propelled them to the tournament championship game and a rematch with Spring Garden.

While Thursday’s rematch was a little tougher for the Lady Warriors, they still managed to prevail by the final of 4-2 to capture their third county softball title in four seasons.

“They’ve worked exceptionally hard during this past summer and off-season to prepare (for the season),” Weaver said. “One of their goals was to take home the county title.”

And take it home they did.

Abby Lea earned the win in the championship game after going the distance. She allowed an earned run on four hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.

At the plate, Grayson Tucker and Anna Walker both homered to spark the Lady Warrior offense. Tucker finished the game going 2-for-3. Walker drove in a pair of runs.

Raechel Russell was also 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and a pair of runs. Lanie Williams also doubled and drove in a run. Audrey Haygood had a hit and Macy Lea earned a walk.

Helena Ingram led Spring Garden at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs. Maggie Jarrett, who propelled the Lady Panthers past Cedar Bluff with a walk-off 3-run homer against Cedar Bluff to win 5-2 in an elimination game on Thursday, went 1-for-3 with a RBI. Avery Steward was also 1-for-3 at the plate.

Lilly McCain suffered the loss for the Lady Panthers. She worked three innings and gave up three earned runs on six hits with a walk and no strikeouts. Addie Word also tossed three innings and gave up an earned run on a hit with no walks and a strikeout.

Spring Garden also defeated Sand Rock 6-0 to advance to its second meeting in as many days with the Lady Warriors.