The Oglethorpe County volleyball team defeated top-seeded Providence Christian 25-19, 25-18 and 25-14 to clinch the Area 8-A championship on Saturday.
The Patriots (27-8, 8-2) have won 15 consecutive matches and advance to the first round of the Class A tournament on Oct. 15.
In the championship match, Alexis Fleming had five aces and Naomi McPeake had four aces to lead OCHS. Elizabeth Cook had 15 kills and Leanna Newton had 20 kills. The passing game was led by libero Aryana Knight, defensive specialist Carlie Gabriel and Newton.
In the third round, OCHS defeated Banks County 25-23, 25-13 and 25-16 behind five aces and 10 kills from Cook. Fleming had four aces, Newton had 17 kills, and Knight and Haley Matthews passed well.
On Oct. 1, the Patriots defeated Elbert County 25-19, 25-21 and 25-16 in the second round. Cook had six aces and 15 kills, and Newton added 17 kills.
Softball team clinches spot in state playoffs
Lillie Anderson had three hits and three RBIs to lead the Oglethorpe County softball team to an 11-3 win over Lincoln County on Tuesday night.
It was the final regular-season game for the Patriots, who are the third seed from Region 8-A Division I, guaranteeing them a spot in the state playoffs, which begin on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
OCHS (13-9, 8-4 in the region) will find out its first-round opponent this weekend.
Anderson paced the Patriots’ 10-hit attack against Lincoln County. Khloe Eidson added two RBIs, and Reese Campbell and Maebrynn Reeves added two hits and an RBI each.
Campbell also was the winning pitcher with four strikeouts.
Last Thursday, Banks County defeated OCHS 3-0 on senior night. The team’s seniors are Campbell, Carolyn Barner and Emilee Cutsail.
Anderson led OCHS with two hits in that game.
Reese Campbell (1 RBI), and Maebrynn Reeves (1 RBI) all added 2 hits each. Reese Campbell earned the win pitching with 4 strikeouts.
OCMS update
The Oglethorpe County Middle School cross country team will compete in the middle school state meet on Oct. 11 in Cochran.
That will end the OCMS fall schedule.
The next competition will be a home basketball game against East Jackson on Nov. 3. A home wrestling meet — called Tuesday Night Takedowns — is scheduled for Nov. 4.