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The LaGrange High softball team opened its 2024 season in dominant fashion, outlasting Central Carrollton 17-16 on the road in their season opener in what would prove to be an instant classic of a game.

It was an electric start for a team that has big aspirations this season, but this is just the beginning of a long season.

The Grangers threatened to turn it into a home run derby as Carolyne Garcia hit two and Tatum Nation hit one as well.

Garcia got the party started early when she hit a mammoth three-run homer in the first inning. 

The Lions answered back with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first with the batters getting the better of the pitchers on each team early in the contest.

LaGrange got right back to work in the second, scoring four runs to take a 7-2 lead. Abby McGill laid down a bunt to drive in the opening run of the inning. Nation hit a three-run homer later in the inning.

The Lions got a run back in the bottom of the second and the third inning to cut the LaGrange lead to 7-4. 

The Granger bats came back with a vengeance in the fourth, scoring four runs to take a commanding 11-4 lead. McGill hit a double to drive home the first run of the inning. Garcia promptly hit her second home run to bring the next two runs of the inning home before a Shelby Siggers RBI single rounded out the scoring in the inning for the Grangers.

Central would not go quietly into the night, scoring a run in the fourth and six more in the fifth to tie the game at 11 runs apiece. The Lions eventually took their first lead of the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Just when it looked like the home team would walk away with the victory, the Grangers came storming back. LaGrange put six runs past the Lions to take a 17-13 lead in the top of the seventh inning. Ta’Niya Taylor singled to drive home the first run of the inning. Kimberly Reynolds hit a double to drive home a run and tie the game up. Garcia’s monster game continued with a two-run double. Hudson Wood hit a sacrifice fly and Siggers hit a one-run double to round out the scoring for LaGrange.

The Lions attempted a late rally, but left the tying run on first base.

Garcia was simply uncontainable, going 4-for-5 with seven RBIs. She was not the only Granger that had a monster offensive showing as Reynolds and McGill also had four hits each. Jasia Swanson had three hits while Siggers and Nation had two. Every single starter got in on the action as Taylor, Wood and Tatiana Dudley all had a hit apiece.

The senior duo of Zoe Thompson and Kaylee Foster split time in the circle. 

LaGrange starts the season 1-0 and will be back on the diamond next Tuesday at home versus Trinity Christian in the region and home opener.