Softball Closes Out Regular Season, Heads to Postseason

HOSCHTON — Jackson County's softball team closed out the regular season with a doubleheader sweep of region foe Lanier last week, heading into the state playoffs with a 16-8 record and as the No. 3 seed from Region 8-AAAAAA. 

Jackson County played East Paulding Tuesday, Oct. 18, in the first-round matchup of the state playoffs held at River Ridge High School, which hosted Roswell in the first round of the Super Regional. 

Jackson County defeated Lanier 4-2 and 8-0 in the final home games of the season, before Thursday's regular season finale at Shiloh was cancelled due to rain. In the Game 1 victory over Lanier, freshman Miabella Lee led the team with two hits, while Audrianna Lindquist, Raeghan Thompson each drove home a pair of runs. Kylen Hewell, Emery Schiffman, Lauren Glander and Marley Grounds all scored a run in the win. In the pitching circle, Maegan Brownlee allowed just one earned run on five hits while striking out seven Longhorn batters. 

In game 2, Jackson County broke open a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning, behind seven runs in the frame. JCHS added an additional run in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure the victory. 

Schiffman and Thompson were each 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Glander and Lee each drove in a run. Lee also scored a run, along with Hewell, Brownlee, Grounds and Siearra Townley. Schiffman earned the shutout victory in the pitching circle, squandering just three hits in all five innings of work.