SOFTBALL: Trinity rides late-season surge into state softball tournament

The Trinity Lady Crusaders ended the regular season last Thursday with a big 17-1 victory over Vidalia Heritage Academy, to finish with wins in their final three games, and five of their last seven. 

That late-season push propelled them into the GIAA state tournament as the No. 8 seed, though they were on the outside looking in for much of the year.

Trinity will open against top seed and once-beaten Brentwood Thursday at the South Commons complex in Columbus. Win or lose, its next game in the double-elimination bracket against either Gatewood or Briarwood will come that afternoon at 2 p.m. 

In last week’s finale, Trinity got on the board in the top of the first by scoring three times with two outs. An RBI single by Chloe Rozier and a two-run single by Eden Rowe gave the Crusaders the early advantage.

After an error put Vidalia Heritage on the board in the bottom of the inning, Trinity broke the game wide open in the top of the second.

Brinley Vinson singled and stole second to lead off the frame. Abby Gillis was able to drive her home with a hit to make it 4-1. After an error made it 5-1, Liza Gay ripped a double to make it 6-1. Trinity was far from done.

Reese Cobb singled home another run and Rowe added a sacrifice fly to make the score 8-1. Another error pushed the lead to 9-1 as Trinity turned the order over again. Vinson would reach on a bunt single and Gillis came up next. She would triple home a pair of runs to make it 11-1.

Trinity tacked on six more in the third with RBI singles from M.G. Alligood, Vinson and Kimber Couey, an RBI groundout from Rowe and a two-run double from Gillis to make the final 17-1.

Gillis led the offense with four hits and drove in five. Vinson added three hits, while Gay, Rozier and Cobb had two each. Couey and Rowe also hit safely, with Rowe driving in four.

Offense has not been the problem for Trinity, which ended the regular season with a .331 team batting average. The senior trio of Vinson, Gillis and Alligood hit in the first three spots of the order most of the year and paced the unit.

Vinson is hitting .443, with 24 runs scored and a team best 18 steals out of the leadoff spot.  

Gillis leads the team with a .448 average and 26 runs out of the 2-hole. She is also second on the team with 19 RBIs and eight extra base hits.  

Alligood is hitting .426 with a team best 10 extra base hits and 30 driven in.

Gay and Rozier are both hitting over .300 as well at .358 and .309 respectively. Rozier leads the team with two homers and is second with 10 steals. Gay is third on the team with 16 RBIs and six extra base hits.  

Cobb, Rowe, Lily Kidd, Abby Kilpatrick and Ella Kendrick have also been key contributors throughout the season.

Alligood was forced into the circle after an early-season injury, and has been solid with eight wins and a 4.50 ERA. The defense has struggled at times due to injuries and inexperience, but has played much better late in the season.