It didn't take long for the GPS softball team to punch its ticket to next week's Spring Fling state softball tournament on Thursday morning.
Needing just three innings -- it took a total of 55 minutes from the first pitch until the last -- the Bruisers improved to 20-6 with the 16-0 romp over the Harpeth Hall Honey Bears.
GPS recorded 10 hits on the day and three of them were home runs.
Winning pitcher Hannah Kincer got the party started with a grand slam in the first while Shelby Walters added a three-run blast in the second. Then, just to make sure consistency was the key, Ariana Whatley wrapped up the scoring with a three-run blast of her own in the third.
Walters had pitched a perfect game on Wednesday afternoon when the Bruisers breezed to a 15-0 win. Kincer wasn't far off as she finished with game allowing one hit and a pair of walks.
Emari Frazier had a one-out base on balls in the first while Tess Herzog led off the second with a walk. Then Elizabeth Carpenter got the only hit for the Honey Bears with a single to lead off the third.
"I've hit a grand slam before, but this was my first this year," said Kincer, who will celebrate her 17th birthday on Friday.
"We all came out ready to play like we're capable of playing. We're all hitting really well and our defense is amazing. We're really a close team and we're ready to make the trip back to Murfreesboro," Kincer said after finishing the day with a double in addition to the grand slam. She walked in the second inning and scored three times while driving in six runs.
Macie Stanfield and Whatley both had two hits as well with Stanfield doubling twice and scoring three times while Whatley doubled in a run in the first and got three more RBIs with the homer in the third.
GPS coach Susan Crownover could only smile when the final out had been recorded.
"Congratulations, we're in the Final Four again," she told her girls after the game ended.
"We did a good job early and Hannah did it all with her pitching and her hitting. We're glad to be moving on, but we have a lot of work to do between now and next week that doesn't involve softball. They all have final exams with some on Saturday and Sunday so they won't be taking them in Murfreesboro next week.
"But these girls were excited to play early today with the chance to miss class. We have graduation tomorrow, but that won't affect us since we don't have any seniors, but we will take batting practice at some point tomorrow," Crownover added.
The Bruisers have been the state runner-up the last two years to Baylor. The Lady Red Raiders became the first state qualifier on Wednesday with two five-inning romps over Pope John Paul II.
GPS 646 -- 16 10 0
HARPETH HALL 000 -- 0 1 1
Kincer and Smith; Holladay and Herzog.
(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)