Rivalry between Effingham schools leads both to GHSA softball state playoff Elite 8

The rivalry between the South Effingham and Effingham County softball teams is one of the best in the state of Georgia.

This season the cross-county foes fought it out once again for the Region 2-6A title. Effingham took the first game 2-0, and South Effingham came back to win the second meeting by the same score. South Effingham won the third game 5-4, to clinch the region title, as Sarah Messex doubled off the wall in the bottom of the sixth inning to plate the go-ahead run.

The teams entered the Class 6A state playoffs battle tested, and their rugged regular-season schedule paid off as both won Super Regional crowns to advance to the Elite Eight which starts Wednesday, Oct. 25, in Columbus.

South Effingham (29-4) hosted a Super Regional and the Mustangs dominated with a 20-0 win over Rockdale County, followed by back-to-back 8-0 victories over St. Pius.

Effingham County (25-5) went on the road to the Super Regional hosted by Houston County and knocked off the highly-regarded host Bears twice by scores of 7-2 and 3-2 to punch its ticket to Columbus.

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South Effingham is led by pitcher Bailey Kendziorski, who has committed to Boston College. She has posted a record of 17-0 with an ERA of 0.70, while striking out 162 batters in 100 innings as she reached the 600 strikeout milestone for her career.

"Bailey has been striking out a lot more batters this year," South Effingham coach Adam Newland said. "Her velocity is up, and she is spinning it better which gives her a lot more pop. She's really cranked it up another notch."

Catcher Jaden Burns, who has committed to Wingate University, has excellent chemistry with Kendziorski, and is hitting .364 with 28 RBIs. Messex, the senior first baseman, has been clutch with five homers, 30 RBIs and a .343 average. Freshman Alyssa Martin (.353, 28 RBIs) starts at second, with standout junior Kenzie Ergle (.385, 23 RBIs) at short and senior star Whitney Thompson (.370, 31 RBIs) at third. Emma Darrow (.351, 31 runs) plays left and right field , with Madison Mills in center and Danni Lynn (.409, 29 RBIs) getting lots of action in the outfield.

"The big thing has been the girls trusting the process this year," Newland said. "And we're very fortunate playing in this area competing with Effingham County. It's an incredible softball community that breeds a love of the game into the kids. I think that's why both teams are so competitive."

Effingham County has a star pitcher of its own in Ansleigh Giordano. The sophomore, in her first season as the Rebels' No. 1, earned both wins against Houston County as she struck out 18 in 14 innings, allowing eight hits and just three earned runs.

"Ansleigh is a powerful pitcher with great movement and she is able to locate so well," Effingham coach Brad Thompson said. "She wasn't a surprise for us, we've been waiting for her to step into this role once Rylee Mills (now at Coastal Georgia) graduated, and she has done a great job."

Giordano works well with catcher Gracie LaFleur, who is also a powerful presence at the plate with three homers on the season. Thompson said LaFleur is an offensive catalyst for the Rebels along with third baseman Emma Reynolds, who has six homers on the year.

Abbi Jones starts at first, with Megan Coleman and Olivia Morgan forming a talented combination at second and short, respectively. Sarah Grace Hinely is in left, with Gabbi Hill in cener and Grace Pritchard in right. Jordan Tarver is a designated hitter, while Ava Wingate is also a standout pitcher.

"We came up short in the third game against South Effingham, but that made us determined to play our best at Houston County," Thompson said. "Playing those games with South Effingham in that environment with the stands full of fans and all the sights and sounds you'll get at the Elite Eight in Columbus helped prepare us. In those games, every pitch, every at-bat and every play matters -- and that's how it's going to be in Columbus."

Now both teams are set to be tested right off the bat in Columbus. South Effingham opens Wednesday at 1 p.m. against defending state champion Pope (29-3), featuring ace pitcher Kendall Frost, who has committed to Eastern Carolina.

Effingham faces off with Lassiter (28-2), the Class 6A state champs in 2020 and 2021, with the first pitch set for 5 p.m. Wednesday in the double-elimination tournament.

Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: South Effingham and Effingham County in Elite 8 softball playoffs