Lady Indians nip Hillcrest
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Sports Editor larry@gaffneyledger.com

Gaffney's Julie Sarratt delivers a pitch against Hillcrest on Tuesday.

Memo to future Gaffney High softball opponents: Don't underestimate the Lady Indians.

Gaffney improved to 3-1 in the region after a pair of one-run victories over region rivals this week.

Ashley Mabry drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth as the Lady Indians edged the highly-ranked Hillcrest Lady Rams, 2-1, on Tuesday.

That victory came 24 hours after Julie Sarratt allowed just one hit and struck out eight in a 1- 0 win over Boiling Springs on Monday.

"These were big wins," Gaffney coach Kelly Ellis said. "(The win against Hillcrest) shows that we can play with and beat anybody."

Against Hillcrest, Ashley Mabry reached on an error in the second inning and scored on Hillary Key's hit for the Lady Indians' first run.

The game stayed tied at 1 until the eighth when Megan Standridge singled and scored on Mabry's double.

Sarratt, Courtney Campbell and Mabry all had two hits for the Lady Indians, who outhit Hillcrest 9-3.

On Monday, the Lady Indians scored the game's only run in the sixth when Standridge led off with a single, Katie Patterson reached on an error and Key lashed an RBI double.

"Hillary went to the plate with a lot of confidence," Ellis said. "She knew that we had to score to beat Boiling Springs."

Second baseman Mabry was a bright spot on defense.

The Lady Indians didn't commit an error.

Gaffney has two more region games this week. The Lady Indians will host Spartanburg on Thursday and travel to Mauldin on Friday.