The first GHSA Region 3-4A softball fastpitch matchup between region foes took place on Tuesday, August 31, between HV Jenkins Warriors and the Islands Sharks at Islands High School. On offense, the Islands Sharks were treading the water with seven hits on Tuesday, defeating Jenkins 9-1.
Junior Devin Long singled on her first at-bat pitch to knock in sophomore Haily Hill who had just doubled. Long would steal second, advance to third on a passed ball, and score on junior Emma Sullivan's sacrifice fly. The end of the first inning would be 2-0 Sharks, a lead they never relinquished.
The bottom of the third inning saw the Sharks score four runs. Two errors led to a big inning for the Sharks. Long and senior Alexis Newman reached base on errors, and junior Emma Sullivan had the critical hit, a double, that scored Long. Sharks extended their lead to 6-0.
In the fifth inning, Long would double. Then advance to third on a Jenkins passed ball and would score on senior Madison Lee groundout for a Shark 8-1 lead. The Sharks would tack on one more run in the bottom of the sixth on Hill's fielders choice to score junior Aliyah Williams ending the game 9-1 in the Sharks favor.
Long would finish the game going 2-4, scoring three times and 3 RBIs. Williams,Hill, Sullivan (2 rbi), Newman, and Heba Lara had one hit for the Sharks.
Islands victory went to Aaliyah Williams. The right-hander pitched four innings, giving up one run on three hits while striking out eight and walking none. Long pitched two innings of relief from the bullpen. Long struck out the final six batters to earn the save for the Islands Varsity Sharks.
Jenkins senior Katelyn McCord would have two of Jenkins four hits on the day with a double. Freshmen pitcher Gracin Bote took the loss.
Team 123 456 RHE
Jenkins 000 100 1 4 6
Islands 204 021 9 7 0
Islands Record - 5-1/1-0 region Jenkins Record - 1-2/1-1 region
Photo Credit - Magnolia Creations Photography