By Donald Heath
Special for the Effingham Herald
GUYTON – After an emotional region championship run a week earlier, South Effingham softball coach Adam Newland watched his team return to the diamond with the same lazer focus in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs on Friday.
And that didn’t surprise him.
“I think if you’re struggling to find motivation in the playoffs, then you’re in the wrong business to begin with. We weren’t concerned about that. We were focused on our opponent and our approach,” said Newland after the Mustangs swept visiting Villa Rica 5-1 and 9-1.
SEHS (22-5) will remain home to host Thomas County Central, a No. 3 seed from Region 2, in a second-round, best-of-three series beginning with a doubleheader Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
It’s been a nice run for the Mustangs, who extended their winning streak to 12 games while knocking off the Wildcats. Senior Izzy Wilkins pitched a complete game and had a key three-run home run in the opener and sophomore Cheniyah Jackson equaled the pitching effort in the nightcap.
Wilkins also had a homer in the second game.
“She had a good night,” said Newland about Wilkins. “She’s taken the reins for us. She’s improved during the course of the year and we trust her completely in the circle.”
The last time out, South was a big underdog heading into the region semifinals and a third region championship meant winning against top-10 opponents Greenbrier and Effingham County.
In two wildly exciting eight-inning contests, Wilkins was the winning pitcher in relief against Greenbrier and went 6.2 innings in a no-decision against ECHS.
The victories gave South homefield advantage and a matchup up with Region 5’s No. 4 seed. Sophomore Danni Lynn hit a two-run homer to give the Mustangs a lead. And when Villa Rica sliced the advantage in half, Wilkins’ long blast provided breathing room.
In the nightcap, SEHS threatened to win in five innings after building an 8-0 lead, but Villa Rica, which hosted a super regional as a region champion last season, spoiled a chance to get out of the evening’s cold air early with a run in the bottom of the fifth.
The nine-run nightcap marked the 10th time the Mustangs scored eight or more runs during their winning streak.
“We felt good where we were and we knew we were going to play a decent opponent,” Newland said. “We expected to come out ready to play. Villa Rica’s pitcher (Helaina Magistro) spun it well, but we got a couple of big hits when we needed them.
