Northside Lady Eagles win when it counts the most, qualify for 6A state playoffs with sweep of Valdosta

All of the games this season have been important in their own right. From game one to game 24 and 25 on Tuesday night, they all count but none more so than tonight. The Northside Lady Eagles qualified for a spot in the 6A state playoffs following a sweep of the Valdosta Lady Wildcats. In the biggest games of the season the Lady Eagles came up bigger than they have all season long. “Tonight we handled business like we knew we had to,” said Northside head coach Kylie McHugh. “Over the last few games our bats have been getting hot and that continued tonight.”

So did their ptching.

Game one had senior pitcher Mallory Gordy start the game and go the distance as Northside won 13-2. The Lady Eagles were ahead by as much as seven runs in the second inning and cruised to the victory.

In game two sophomore pitcher Celena Luna (she played first base during game one) threw her second no-hitter of the season -both against Valdosta- after she went three innings to clinch the Lady Eagles state playoff spot with the victory. Luna also hit her 11th home run of the season to go along with fellow sophomore Madelynn Lee’s triple. 

“Each batter, one through nine, attributed to our success tonight,” said McHugh. “I am proud of the girls for fighting for their spot in the playoffs. We are underestimated but Northside has something special and I can’t wait to showcase that as playoffs begin.”

The Lady Eagles still have to play their Region 1-6A semifinal at Coffee Friday night. The winner plays the winner of the Houston County/Lee County series, which will play a game three Wednesday (5 p.m.) in Douglas.