Gaffney hammers Lady Vikes

The Gaffney High softball team got what it needed the most heading into today's showdown with unbeaten Mauldin - a confidence-boosting victory over region rival Spartanburg on Thursday.

Courtney Campbell struck out 10 and Julie Sarratt drove in a pair of runs to lead the Lady Indians to an easy 8-0 victory.

The Lady Indians raced to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Lana Ward got things going with a single before Sarratt followed with a RBI single.

Cameron Crocker then delivered a run-scoring double. Megan Standridge drove in the final run of the inning to make it 4-0.

Gaffney added two more runs in the fourth when Megan Sexton reached on an error and Sarratt knocked her in.

In the fifth inning, Standridge singled and Megan Gallman reached on an error before Sara Griffith lashed a 2- run single.

Campbell improved to 4-0 with the win.

Standridge and Griffith both had two hits and a RBI. Crocker also had a RBI.

Gaffney coach Kelly Ellis said her team played sluggishly and might have been looking ahead to Mauldin.

"We didn't have a lot of enthusiasm in our game against Spartanburg," she said.

Ellis said the Lady Indians, who improve to 13-3 overall and 4-1 in Region II-4A, must come ready to play against the region-leading Lady Mavericks.

"We have to come out swinging," she said. "Mauldin has a very good pitcher."