Effingham County High School

Lady Rebels roll through competition at tournament

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If the Effingham County Lady Rebels’ intention was to make a statement over the weekend, it appears it was delivered loudly and clearly.

The Lady Rebels stormed through the field at Brunswick’s Softball in the Sand tournament, capping their five-game run with an 8-0 victory over Camden County in the gold bracket championship game. And they needed just five innings to do that.

Effingham (8-1) outscored its opposition 39-6 during the tournament.

“We played very well, and we hit the ball really well,” said Lady Rebels coach Matt Huntley. “I was very pleased with the way we hit the ball and just our whole approach at the plate was good.”

Caroline Neidlinger was 2-for-3 with a double and drove in two runs in the opening 8-1 victory over North Cobb. Maddie Evans and Whitney Smith each went 2-for-2 and drove in a run.

Evans was 2-for-4 in a 6-0 win over Richmond Hill, a Region 2-AAAA (A) foe. Kendall Usher got the win in the circle. Neidlinger went 3-for-3 with a double, in a 7-1 rout of McIntosh County Academy. Usher went 2-for-3 and struck out seven in the win over the Lady Buccaneers.

Annabeth Helmly knocked in five runs, going 3-for-3 with double, and Bridget Devlin was 2-for-2 with a double in a 10-4 romp over Colquitt County. Devlin was 3-for-3, driving in two runs, and Usher was 2-for-2 in the finale over Camden County.

Though the season is three weeks old, the Lady Rebels had played only four games before the tournament — meaning they played more games in two days than they had in the three weeks leading up to it.

“It gave us a chance to see what we had,” Huntley said. “I think it relaxed our nerves a little bit. They responded well to it, and I hope we can carry it out to the next region game.”

That next region game is tonight at home against South Effingham, and the Lady Rebels wanted the rest of the teams at the tournament — which included several from the other subregion they may not see until the region playoffs — to take notice.

“We had the mentality, ‘let’s send a message and show them who we are and let them do the worrying,’” Huntley said. “It’s good to compete and have a good weekend.”