Region 5-AA Semifinal: Lady Braves 12, Callaway 0

The 2020 Lady Braves will aim for a third straight Region 5-AA crown when they host Bremen at 7:00 Pm Thursday in Franklin (Photo: Heard County Braves Softball on Facebook)

(Franklin, GA) — Freshman Chloe Scarborough got the start in Tuesday’s Region 5-AA Semifinal tilt versus Callaway and she did not disappoint — leading the Lady Braves to a 12-0 win in four innings.

The win clinches a spot in Thursday’s Region 5-AA Championship game at Heard High where the Lady Braves (20-6) will host arch rival Bremen (20-8) at 7:00 PM.

The Blue Devils defeated Haralson County 5-3 in Tuesday’s early semi to advance to Region 5-AA’s biggest game of the season.

Thursday’s matchup will feature two of the top ranked teams in the state as the AJC rankings released earlier today had the Lady Braves ranked at No. 4 in the state while the Lady Blue Devils are ranked at No. 5. Each squad has posted 20 wins this season.

Scarborough went three innings Tuesday and allowed no hits or walks while striking out five Cav hitters. She threw 27 of her 34 pitches for strikes to earn her first postseason win.

Coach Matt Hornsby has been impressed by Scarborough’s work in the home stretch of the season.

“It was good to see that Chloe keeps throwing like she has for the last month. She is looking as good as even LilyRae Fulford and that is what we need moving forward in the playoffs,” said Hornsby after the game. “To be able to have multiple pitchers come in and do the same job is definitely a heck of a boost. Our girls are really getting behind Chloe — some of that has to be earned — and I think she has earned it in their minds too.”

Offensively, four different Lady Braves had two hit efforts including seniors Beth Taylor and Alyssa Hall along with junior Janiyah Strong and freshman Aubree Ussery.

Taylor had a double with two RBI’s and Zekylah Boyd drove home two with a base hit as well.

Emma Helton, Abigail Lathrop, and Taylor Bailey each scored twice while Lathrop and Boyd each recorded a stolen base.

The Lady Braves defeated Bremen in the first two meetings this season, but Hornsby understands the challenge they will present in Thursday’s title game.

“It is really tough to beat a team like Bremen three times in a season,” Hornsby said. “Their pitcher is back and they are healthy. She seemed to be throwing harder today than she ever has and her having two or three weeks off may have helped them just by keeping her fresh.”

Callaway will meet Haralson County Thursday at 5:00 PM at HCHS in the third place game. Region 5-AA will match up versus Region 8-AA in round one of the state playoffs beginning next Monday.

Tonight’s win guarantees the Lady Braves (20-6) will host a doubleheader on Monday versus either Rabun County or Union County.

Thursday’s Championship game loser will face a very tough first round opponent in Union County — the No. 10 ranked team in the state that fell to the No. 3 seed in 8-AA after struggling in the Region 8-AA tourney that concluded last week.