CARROLLTON – For the first time since 2005 the Cedartown Lady Bulldogs fast-pitch softball team is headed to the Class AAA North Sectionals.

“I am so proud of this team,” Cedartown Head Coach Chris McKelvey said. “To qualify for Sectionals is great.”

The No. 6 seeded Lady Bulldogs had an up-and-down day one at the Region 6-AAA Tournament last Tuesday. Cedartown started the day by losing a heartbreaker to No. 3 seeded Cass 5-4 in eight innings. In the nightcap, Cedartown pounded No. 7 seeded Cartersville 9-4.

On Thursday the Lady Bulldogs had another up-and-down day, however their up was good enough to qualify them for the Sectionals.

“Carrollton is a team that beat us on Senior Night and we were able to bounce back from that and beat them in an elimination game to qualify for Sectionals,” McKelvey said. “I thought the girls were focused coming into the game, yet they were loose as well. It was a great win for us.”

During day two of the tournament, Cedartown defeated No. 4 seeded Carrollton 5-0 before falling to No. 2 seeded Sandy Creek 13-3 in the nightcap.

The following is a recap of each game:

TUESDAY

Cass 5, Cedartown 4 (8 inn.)

“We got behind against Cass and the girls really battled back and we could have won the game, but we didn’t,” McKelvey said. “So many times this year we have been so close to winning. We have played 13 one-run ballgames this year and only won three of them.”

The Lady Colonels (14-14) jumped ahead early as they scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning on a walk, a single and two Cedartown errors. In the third inning, Cass hit back-to-back doubles to add to their lead and make it 3-0.

Trailing 3-0 going into the fourth inning, Cedartown got their offense going. Jolie Mason led off with a single and then proceeded to steal second base. Kirstin Prescott walked and with one out, Canedra Adams hit into a fielder’s choice to move runners to second and third base.

Holly Moore followed with a two-run double to left centerfield that cut Cass’ lead to 3-2. After Kristen Agan walked, Rebecca Roberts singled to load the bases. Ashley Benefield then coaxed a walk to score another run and tie the game at three.

Neither team scored again until the eighth inning.

Cedartown scored first when Kristen Little bunted Prescott over to third base (Prescott was already on second base due to the international tiebreaker rule). Adams then hit into a fielder’s choice to drive in Prescott and make it 4-3 Cedartown.

However Cass responded with two runs in the bottom of the eighth on a passed ball and an error to win the game.

Senior pitcher Lacee Landrum tossed six innings against the Lady Colonels, allowing six hits, two walks, one earned run and striking out two. Moore pitched the final two frames, allowing no hits, one walk, no earned runs and striking out one.

Hannah Hight got the win for Cass, allowing one earned run on one hit and striking out 13.

TUESDAY

Cedartown 9, Cartersville 4

The Lady Bulldogs played Cartersville (7-26) for the fifth time this season and Cedartown cruised to an easy victory.

Moore picked up the win on the mound for Cedartown and Little closed the game.

Offensively, Prescott went 4-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs scored. Moore went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Roberts added two hits and an RBI while Mason had two hits, including a triple. Landrum rounded out the Lady Bulldogs offensive attack as she recorded two hits, both doubles, and drove in four runs.

For Cartersville, Brooke Tomlin and Kaye Sullins picked up two hits apiece.

“This win made us 16-15 on the season and allowed us to live to play another day,” McKelvey said. “We need to play better and battle for 21 outs.”

THURSDAY

Cedartown 5, Carrollton 0

Landrum made sure the Lady Bulldogs qualified for Sectionals as she put together a great pitching performance in an elimination game.

“Lacee pitched great,” McKelvey said. “You couldn’t ask more from her.”

Landrum tossed all seven innings, allowing three hits and one walk. She struck out five batters during the game and faced four batters or less in an inning six times. Only one Carrollton runner got to second base against Landrum the entire contest.

Offensively, Cedartown got going in the second inning when Moore, Agan and Roberts connected on back-to-back-to-back singles. With one out, Landrum reached base on an error to score Moore and make it 1-0. Mason followed by hitting an RBI groundout to second base to make it 2-0.

In the fifth inning, Prescott singled, stole second base and moved over to third base on a ground out. With two outs, Prescott would score on a passed ball to make it 3-0.

Cedartown tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning when Agan doubled and scored when Roberts reached base by an error. With one out, Landrum hit an RBI single to left field to make it 5-0.

Agan went 2-for-3 with a walk to lead Cedartown’s offense and Roberts went 2-for-4.

Carrollton (18-11) got a single from Hillary Berryman, Kristi Taylor and Jessica Wallis.

THURSDAY

Sandy Creek 13, Cedartown 3 (6 inn.)

Sandy Creek erupted for six runs in the first inning and then tacked on six more in the third to take a commanding 12-0 lead. The No. 10 state-ranked Lady Fighting Patriots (22-9-1) was able to cruise to the finish line from there, winning 13-3 in five innings.

“Sandy Creek is the best hitting team I’ve seen in my four years of being associated with high school fast-pitch softball,” McKelvey said.

The Lady Bulldogs got their three runs in the fifth inning. It started when Agan struck out but reached first base safely as the Sandy Creek catcher missed strike three.

Rebekah Tuck followed with an RBI triple to right center field. With Tuck on third base, Landrum would hit an RBI infield single. With one out, Mason would reach base on a fielder’s choice. A single by Prescott allowed Mason to get into scoring range and she then scored on a passed ball.

Prescott, Adams, Tuck and Landrum picked up one hit each to round out Cedartown’s four-hit attack.

Sophomore Andrea Dalton hit a grand slam home run in the third inning to highlight Sandy Creek’s 13-hit attack. Kayla Awbrey, another sophomore, went 4-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Lady Fighting Patriots.

Cedartown will now enter into the North Sectionals in Gainesville at Lanier Pointe this Friday and Saturday. The Lady Bulldogs will be the No. 4 seed from Region 6-AAA and open play against the No. 1 seed from Region 8-AAA.