Update: Northside to play for state softball championship
The Northside softball team advanced to the state championship game for the second time in program history with a 9-1 rout of Marist on Saturday afternoon.
The game was called after five innings due to the mercy rule.
Northside, which was shutout by Central-Carrollton earlier in the day on one hit, jumped on Marist with three runs in the first and five more in the second.
In the first, Gabi Apiag singled, followed by Jordan Wells with a double and Hannah George with a triple.
Raelee Weaver led off the second with a homer. Kayson Boatner had a double to give Northside an 8-0 lead. She also hit a homer in the fifth.
Northside will play Central-Carrollton at 3 for the state title.
Northside lost to Columbus High in the 2009 state title game.
Central-Carrollton 7, Northside 0
Central-Carrollton pitcher Emily Williams struck out 21 as the Lions beat Northside 7-0 in the GHSA Class 4A winners bracket final on Saturday morning.
Northside managed to get four base-runners, one on a hit by Hannah George, two on walks and one of a hit-batter. But those came in four different innings.
The hit by George, a sharp line drive that ticked off the third baseman’s glove, was the first in three games off Williams, who has committed to sign with UCF.
Williams pitched perfect games in the Lions’ first two wins in the state tournament. In three games, she now has 58 strikeouts out of a possible 63 outs.
Northside’s best scoring chance came in the second inning. Kayson Boatner was hit by a pitch with one out. She went to second on a stolen base and third on a wild pitch. But Williams finished the inning with two strikeouts.
Abbey Cook and Maddie Dodson drove in three runs apiece.
Northside will play again in the double elimination tournament at 1 p.m. against the winner of the 11 a.m. game, which features Marist and Chapel Hill.
Saturday at South Commons
Game 1
Central-C | 201 | 000 | 4 | — | 7 | 8 | 0 |
Northside | 000 | 000 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 | 5 |
WP: Emily Williams. LP: Hannah George. Top hitters: Central Carrollton Bennett 3-4, 2R; Sales 0-3, 2R; Cook 2-4, 2B, 2R, 3RBI; Dodson 1-3, 2B, 3RBI; Sharp 1-4; North 1-3. Northside Hannah George 1-3.
Game 2
Northside | 350 | 01 | — | 9 | 9 | 0 | |
Marist | 000 | 10 | — | 1 | 5 | 2 |
WP: Hannah George. LP: Lexi Van Metre. Top hitters: Northside Gabi Apaig 2-3, 2R; Jordan Wells 1-3, 2B, 2R, 2RBI; Hannah George 1-3, 3B, R, 2RBI; Kayson Boatner 3-3, HR, 2RBI; Raelee Weaver 1-2, HR; Ciara Jesus 1-2, R; Kennedi Bedell 2R.
This story was originally published October 29, 2016 at 11:21 AM with the headline "Update: Northside to play for state softball championship."