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Lady Mustangs show mercy on Burke
0916 joni lynn
South Effingham senior Joni Lynn slugs a triple to left field in the Lady Mustangs’ 11-1 win over Burke County. - photo by Photo by Jimmy Currier

Another subregion game equaled another victory for South Effingham’s softball team.

Behind a dominant pitching performance from Sally Faircloth, the Lady Mustangs defeated Burke County 11-1 in five innings on Thursday .

Faircloth pitched a complete game one-hitter for her third win of the season.

The win is South Effingham’s third consecutive subregion win, improving the team to 3-0 in Region 3-AAA (A).

“We’re on a winning streak, and that’s something we haven’t had yet,” South Effingham head coach Donnie Ussery said. “I’m excited to see the girls win.”

Joni Lynn and Sarah Parker, who have struggled at the plate lately, hammered the ball. Lynn led the Lady Mustangs with a 3-for-3 performance, including a double and a triple, while Parker went 2-for-3 with two triples.

“Those are two of my good hitters from last year. They’re hard workers and they worked themselves out of a slump,” Ussery said.

Lynn, who hit better than .400 last season, hasn’t seen many good pitches this season.

“I told her to stay patient and it will come and it did,” Ussery said. “I’m excited about seeing her get a triple and a double.”

Parker, who always does the finer things such as laying down a bunt and putting the ball in play, took an aggressive approach at the plate.

“I saw her be aggressive today at the plate, and that’s what I like to see,” Ussery said.

Those two weren’t the only ones having a good day.

Katie Rietkovich, who leads the team with a .436 average, went 2-for-2 from the leadoff position and scored two runs.

Crystal Sellars was efficient at moving runners, collecting three RBIs despite going 0-for-4.

However, it wasn’t her RBIs that had Ussery singing the catcher’s praises.

He described Sellars as a coach on the field and said she does an excellent job calling pitches and working with the pitchers.

“She makes my job easier. It’s a real value to have someone who knows the game like she does,” Ussery said. “Our pitchers are comfortable with her back there and her knowledge of the game is unbelievable.”