Henry County softball team advances to sectionals, will play Saturday

The Henry County High School Lady Patriots softball team passed another hurdle Wednesday when they defeated Dickson County, 4-1, to win the Region 7-4A tournament championship.

With that victory, the Lady Patriots move into the sectional round in the playoffs. They will play Houston High School at 5 p.m. Saturday at HCHS. Houston is the second-place finisher from Region 8-4A. The sectional is a single game to determine a spot in the state tournament, which starts May 21.

Henry County jumped to a 3-0 lead after three innings Wednesday against the Lady Cougars. Andie Barrett walked to lead off the bottom of the second inning, and then Breely Peirpoint launched a two-run homer to right field.

In the third, Noe Wilkerson led off for the Lady Patriots with a single. When Irelynn Beecham laid down a sacrifice bunt, the speedy Wilkerson made it all the way to third. That allowed her to score when Celia Lamkin grounded out to the shortstop.

After Dickson County got on the board with a run in the top of the fourth, HCHS answered with an insurance run in their half when Alley French and Audrey Hill both walked. A Lady Cougar error and a wild pitch brought French in to make it 4-1.

Lamkin was the pitcher for Henry County. She allowed four hits and struck out four as she pitched a complete game.

The Lady Patriots, coached by Renae Lassiter, are now 25-4-1 on the season. They're on a six-game winning streak and are unbeaten in their last nine games.