Local Roundup: Northgate volleyball, softball teams pick up big wins
From Staff Reportssports@newnan.com
From opposite ends of campus, Northgate High’s softball and volleyball teams took turns putting together one of their best outings of the season on Thursday.
The Lady Vikings’ volleyball team picked up its first victory in school history over Sandy Creek, rallying back in the deciding game of a 25-18, 22-25, 26-24 win en route to a sweep of the Lady Patriots and Locust Grove at the Johnny Brown Gym.
Heading toward the final two weeks of the regular season, head coach Matt Trucks’ volleyball team played one of its best matches of the season against Sandy Creek. After splitting the first two sets, the Lady Vikings battled back from an 18-13 deficit in the final game.
“You always went to be playing your best volleyball at the end of the season,” Trucks said. “I still don’t think we’re there yet, but it was some of the best volleyball we’ve played. We didn’t quit. It was the old Northgate-style.”
Trucks’ received key contributions throughout the lineup in Thursday’s sweep, with freshman Savannah Moore and junior Michaella Crooks sharing 12 blocks in the win over Sandy Creek. Moore finished with nine and Crooks added eight in a remarkable effort.
“I don’t know what they ate for breakfast,” Trucks joked. “But I told them both to eat it again.”
Junior Randee Harvel finished with a team-high 14 kills to lead the offense. Senior setter Brittany Scarbrough and senior libero Elle McCord were equally dominant. Scarbough led Northgate with 30 assists and seven service aces. McCord’s 18 digs also led the Lady Vikings.
Seniors Kaylee Mappin and Taylor Kidner also chimed in with three aces and four kills, respectively.
Head coach Lisa Skelton’s Northgate softball lineup also received a much more concerted effort on Thursday to cap off a string of three games over three days. Following a three-inning region blowout of Mt. Zion-Jonesboro and Wednesday’s disappointing loss to crosstown rival East Coweta, the Lady Vikings plated lone runs in the second and third innings at home before scoring six runs on five hits — including a pair of doubles — in the bottom of the fourth.
Casey Kent’s lead off double got the huge rally started against the Lady Chiefs (4-6-1, 4-2) in the fourth despite being tagged out at home for the first out of the inning two batters later while trying to score on Hannah Edge’s second single of the game.
Myatt, however, followed with a single of her own to load the bases. Two passed balls plated Northgate runners in between a walk to Ebonee Echols to push the lead to 4-0. Brenna Skalski and Andie Martin then followed with RBI hits to keep the game out of reach.
Every Northgate starter had at least one hit except for Echols, who walked and scored twice.
In other softball action on Thursday:
Newnan 10, Tri-Cities 0 (4 innings)
The Lady Cougars celebrated Senior Night with a dominating Region 3-AAAAAA victory while all but wrapping up the No. 2 seed for the region playoffs. Newnan plays its final regular season game in the region on Sept. 18 at winless Langston Hughes.
Sydney Garmany belted an inside-the-park homer and got a chance to pitch the final inning in a rare relief effort for the Lady Cougars (7-7, 3-1). Deborah Dailey added a triple and Abbie Garner belted an RBI double as the Lady Cougars head to this weekend’s Trojan Slam in Carrollton tonight for a 7:30 p.m. game against South Paulding.
