Griffin catcher Amani Durant waits on a pitch at home Sept. 6 against Stockbridge. The junior had a 2-run triple last year against Spalding to help defeat the crosstown rival Lady Jags. (Jeff Armstrong/Daily News)
Spalding's Nesia Walker stands at third base in a home contest against region foe Stockbridge. (Jeff Armstrong/Daily News)
Spalding, currently 4-9 overall and 1-5 in Region 4-AAAA, has lost four of its last five games and is currently in eighth place in the standings while Griffin (9-10, 5-3) is fourth in the region after a 5-4 win over Dutchtown last Thursday capped a four-game win streak.
The Lady Bears of Griffin struggled in the North Cobb Tournament last weekend, losing four of six games, to fall below .500 overall.
“We played some very good teams in the North Cobb tourney last weekend. I think it was good for our girls to play against some really good competition,” said Griffin head coach Kevin Mobley.
Rain in the area didn’t dampen the mood around Griffin and Mobley believes that even if it rains this morning, the region match between the crosstown rivals will still be able to take place today at GHS.
“We’re hoping to play Spalding today, but if not, we’ll try for Wednesday,” he said. “Our field needs a little moisture on it anyway.”
Mobley said what Griffin really needs is a win on Senior Night. The Lady Bears want to continue to hover in the top four in the region. Spalding needs to win today to stay above the three Clayton County teams in the region (North Clayton, Jonesboro and Riverdale) and clinch the eighth spot or better. The top 8 teams in the region will qualify to play in the upcoming Region 4-AAAA Tournament, held in October at Moseley Park in Stockbridge.
“We hope to play well against Spalding. We know they will play their best game against us, so we’ll have to match their intensity, make the plays and see what happens,” Mobley said. “There’s no secret as to what each team needs to do. The girls on both teams know each other well so you can throw the records out the door.”
A win for Spalding today would really help the Lady Jags ascend in the region. They have to make up a game against Upson-Lee and they have games left with two of the three Clayton teams at the bottom of the standings (at North Clayton, Sept. 20; Riverdale, Sept. 25). Four wins there and the Lady Jags will be right in the thick of things in Region 4-AAAA.
Last year, Griffin got big hits from graduated senior Jahmiya Clemons and current junior catcher Amani Durant to beat Spalding 9-1 at Griffin High. The win for the Lady Bears ended Spalding’s 5-game win streak in the series.
Griffin leads the all-time series 11-7.
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