GDW Analysis:
FLORENCE: With sophomore pitcher Molly Benefield ready to return to the circle after having a week off and one solid inning from the batter's box, Good Hope Lady Raiders put an 11 to 1 triumph on Dora Tuesday morning in the AHSAA 4A North Regional.
Nine runs broke the game open by Good Hope on 7 hits in the 3rd. That helped Benefield and also allowed coach Tim Tucker to relieve her with freshman Calleigh Granger.
Granger worked three innings, giving up 1 run, retiring 6 of the last 7 batters she faced to keep Dora off stride.
Good Hope's 1 to 0 lead in the 1st was due to Lizzy Steed with a leadoff triple and a sac fly from 1st base foul territory by Kylee Smith.
After Benefield got a ground ball out to start the game, the right hander then set down the next five Dora hitters by a strikeout.
Her no hit bid ended with a one out single in the 3rd. Benefield worked 3 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit and 6 strikeouts.
Campbell Koch produced a 2 run single in the Good Hope 3rd, Haley Lay singled home a run and two run slash down the left field line by Benefield added a pair and the Lady Raiders moved the lead to 6 to 0.
Steed and Smith closed out the hit parade with run scoring singles and the Lady Raiders went to the middle innings with a 10 to 1 lead.
Dora did not allow Good Hope a run in the 4th or 5th in trying to avoid losing by the run rule.
In the Lady Raiders' 6th, Smith singled, got into scoring position and would make a head first slide into home from 3rd base off a fielders' choice by Gracie Bates.
The took care of the 1st round game at 10:26 a.m.
The game was played in 1 hour, 31 minutes.
Good Hope's winning streak is at 8 games and overall record of 25/11/1.
Other 1st round scores from 4A North:
Hamilton 5, Wilson 1
Curry 8, Hatton 2
Danville 11, Cordova 5
Hamilton had a game vs. Good Hope scheduled for 1:45 p.m. in the winners semifinal.
The other was No. 2 Curry at 48 & 3 vs. Danville.
In the elimination bracket, Dora was to play Wilson and Cordova against Hatton.
Photo of the Good Hope Lady Raiders during the National Anthem Tuesday in the North SB Regional at the Florence Sportsplex.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton
