Rockdale Citizen

The Heritage softball team got its region slate off to a fine start Tuesday in Conyers. Kierra Camp tossed a three-hitter and the bottom of the Patriots' batting order led the way at the plate in a 5-1 win over Flowery Branch.

Heritage (9-1, 1-0 Region 8-AAAAA) got five hits and four RBIs from its six through nine hitters, including a pair of hits each from Macarri Wilkerson and Heidi Shepherd and 2 RBIs from No. 8 hitter Cierra Davenport.

"Tonight it was pretty much the bottom of the order ... they all got it done," Heritage coach Jason McBay said afterward. "That's huge for us when you can get that kind of production from the bottom of the order. Just because they're hitting down there doesn't mean the expectations are any less."

The run support -- which came in a three-run second and a two-run sixth-was more than enough for Camp. The right-hander didn't allow an earned run and struck out seven to help the Patriots win their fourth consecutive game following a tournament title last weekend in the Lady Tiger Invite at Temple High School.

Heritage will try to extend its winning streak when it travels to Athens to play Clarke Central today at 6 p.m.Seminoles fall to WinderWINDER -- Salem's softball team dropped its Region 8-AAAAA opener, falling 3-2 to Winder-Barrow on Tuesday. Right-hander Rylee Rogers pitched well for the visitors, allowing no earned runs and just two hits in a complete game effort.

"Rylee Rogers had another great performance for us pitching (but) our defense made some early inning errors which cost us some runs," said Seminoles coach Ronnie Miller.

Salem, which fell to 2-5, 0-1, continues league play when it hosts Gainesville today at 5:55 p.m.