Generals Topple Bruins to Wrap Up Regular Season

RINGGOLD - The Heritage Generals softball team earned the program’s 150th home win in a 0-0 victory over Northwest Whitfield in the regular season finale on Thursday night at the Heritage Softball Complex.

The Generals finish the regular season with a 21-2-1 overall record and a 14-1 mark in region play and will be the No. 1 seed in next week’s Super Regional. Northwest Whitfield will be the No. 4 seed from Region 7-AAAA after finishing the regular season with a 10-18 overall record and a 6-9 mark against region opponents. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

In her first start of the season and sixth of her career, two-way Bailee Hollis held the Northwest offense in check. The southpaw scattered three hits while allowing one earned run across 5.2 innings pitched. She exited the game with two outs in the sixth for Addie Edwards, who stranded the go-ahead run in scoring position with a strikeout.

Ema Tanner ignited the pivotal inning on offense with a one-out double in the left-center field gap. She was lifted in favor of pinch runner Electra Bowling, who scored the go-ahead run on fellow freshman Brylee Pritchett’s RBI single. Bailee Hollis added to the lead with a sacrifice fly that scored Landry White.

Northwest loaded the bases in the top of the seventh against Edwards, who tossed 8.2 innings in a win over Cedartown on Tuesday. Pinch hitters Tabitha Brown and Aubree Holmes reached base with one out, and Eden Rann loaded the bases after a passed ball on a dropped third strike allowed her to reach safely. With the winning run on base in the form of Rann, Edwards struck out Staesha Campbell to seal a 3-1 win for the Generals.

Edwards eclipsed the 400-strikeout mark with her seventh inning punch out of Eden Rann. She is the second General all-time (Rachel Gibson) to achieve the feat, and moved into second place on the career strikeouts list, passing Marissa Patterson.

NWHS 1, HHS 3

SCORING PLAYS

B5 | NWHS 0, HHS 1 | Macie Collins grounded into a fielder’s choice. Brylee Pritchett scored.

T6 | NWHS 1, HHS 1 | Libby Lee doubled to center field. Eden Rann scored.

B6 | NWHS 1, HHS 2 | Brylee Pritchett singled through the right side. Electra Bowling scored.

B6 | NWHS 1, HHS 3 | Bailee Hollis out on a sacrifice fly. Landry White scored.

UP NEXT

The Generals (21-2-1, 14-1 7-AAAA) will host their first GHSA Super Regional since introducing the new playoff format in 2022. The champions from Region 7-AAAA will open postseason play with a 2:30 p.m. matchup on Wednesday, Oct. 18 against the No. 4 Miller Grove Wolverines (12-5, 5-2 6-AAAA) from Region 6-AAAA. Rounding out the field are the No. 2 East Forsyth Broncos (18-10, 15-3 8-AAAA) and the No. 3 Hampton Hornets (10-12, 10-3 5-AAAA). Those two teams will square off at 4:45 on Wednesday.