Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

LaGrange is on to the second round of the state playoffs. The Granger softball team pulled out the brooms and swept Mt. Zion, Jonesboro in a best of three series on Thursday to kickoff the 2024 playoffs. It was complete domination as the Grangers mercy ruled the Bulldogs in both games.

GAME ONE:

LaGrange – 17

Mt. Zion – 0

The Grangers dispatched the Bulldogs with ease in game one of the first round of the state playoffs on Friday. It was an early start with first pitch just after 11 a.m.

LaGrange looked anything but sluggish to start and put the hammer down early, leaving little doubt about the outcome as they scored 14 runs in the first inning.

It was an inning that featured seven hits and eight walks for the Grangers. The frame belonged to senior Abby McGill, who went 2-for-2 with six RBIs and two runs scored. McGill had a two-run single in her first at-bat before delivering an inside-the-park grand slam in her second at-bat of the inning.

“I was so tired (heading to third) and I thought I was going to get a break there, but coach sent me home and I was out of breath,” McGill said with a chuckle.

McGill was not content with what she accomplished in the first and hit a single to drive in her seventh and eighth run of the game in the second inning.

Tatum Nation, Jasia Swanson, Tatiana Dudley, Addyson Arnett and Carolyne Garcia all got a hit in the game.

Freshman Dakota McDaniel got the start in the circle and dominated in her three innings of work,striking out seven batters and not allowing a single hit.

This was the first playoff game that LaGrange had hosted in four years.

“It was amazing to play here in the playoffs, all the fans we had out here were amazing,” McGill said after playing her final game at home. “It’s always special to play here.”

GAME TWO:

LaGrange – 19

My. Zion – 1

The Grangers picked up right where they left off in game two, dominating the Bulldogs once again.

LaGrange took no time to push the Bulldogs to the brink, scoring 15 runs in the first inning before tacking on another in the second. The Grangers had six hits and seven walks in the first frame.

If game one was the McGill show, the second game belonged to Clary Anne Adcock. The junior saw McGill’s inside-the-park homer in the first game and decided to one up with her a grand slam that flew over the center field wall.

“It felt so surreal, it didn’t even hit me until I was rounding second base,” Adcock said.. “It was nice to do it here because all my friends came out and it’s nice to have the support.”

It was a big series for Adcock, who is receiving game time for the first time in the postseason with the Grangers.

The Bulldogs eventually scored their first run of the playoffs in the second inning on an error.

LaGrange immediately got that run back and more in the third inning to put the game on ice.

Wood and Adcock led the team with two hits apiece while Tatum, Taylor Nation, Shelby Siggers and Carolyne Garcia all had one apiece.

Senior Zoe Thompson for the start in the circle and pitched all three innings, allowing just two hits on eight strikeouts.

WHAT’S NEXT:

LaGrange will travel to North Hall next Thursday for the first two games of the sweet 16 with the first game starting at 2 p.m. A potential game three would be played that Friday.