Falcons Sweep 1st round of the
State Playoffs 10/13/09

With runs hard to come by on Tuesday night, Dacula starter Allie Miles made what run support she did get stand up.

The senior right-hander delivered not one, but two complete-game efforts as the Falcons swept Cherokee in the first round of the Class AAAAA state playoffs, taking the first game 3-1 while outlasting the Warriors (19-11) 5-0 in eight innings in Game 2.

"The first game was basically her warming up and she still had the stuff to go in the second game," Dacula head coach Tracy Keefer said.

Miles (11-5) had good stuff in both games, giving up just one run on four hits with seven strikeouts in the opener while shutting out the Warriors in the second game, scattering four hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts.

Cherokee starter Torie Reeves went pitch-for-pitch with Miles, also hurling two complete games, displaying stretches of perfection as she set down the first 12 hitters she faced in the opener while retiring 20 straight hitters at one point in the night cap.

But the Dacula offense found a way.

"If you draw blood, I've told our girls that you need to keep poking at it and make it spurt," Keefer said. "That's what we did tonight."

An RBI triple in Game 1 from Cherokee's Brianne Welch put the Warriors up 1-0 in the fourth inning, a lead that stood for one inning when sophomore Brittany Taylor led off the bottom of the fifth with her first home run of the year, a solo shot that rattled off the netting of the batting cages beyond the center-field fence.

One inning later, the Falcons (15-13-1) scratched out two more runs. Miles led off the inning with a single, followed by an infield single from Taryn Anthony to put runners at first and second.

Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Charlotte Sieber when Katie Daniels hit a grounder back to the mound. Reeves fielded the ball and threw to first for the out but Miles broke for home on Reeves' throw and was able to get around catcher Jessica Jones when she dropped the throw from first.

Jenny Willis would add an RBI single to score Anthony and Miles did the rest, closing out the game with a strikeout of Macey Phillips.

Both pitchers delivered again in Game 2 as neither team scored in regulation. Dacula had an opportunity in the first inning by loading the bases with one out, but Reeves wiggled out of the jam and settled in by retiring 20 hitters in a row, a streak that wouldn't be broken until the eighth inning.

"Our girls were down in the last game and I pulled them together before the eighth inning," Miles said. "I said we were down and needed to pull it together and pick it up and win this thing as a team."

Miles' pep talk worked as the Falcons scored five runs, getting its first run on a squeeze bunt by pinch hitter Cassidy Culberson. Sieber delivered the big blow with a two-run double to right center while Daniels and Willis added some cushion each with an RBI single.

Miles retired the side in order in the bottom half, securing the 5-0 win and a berth in the second round.

"We wouldn't have got those last three outs without our defense," Miles said. "They kept putting the ball in play and wouldn't give up."

Dacula, the No. 2 seed from Region 8-AAAAA, won't have far to travel for the second round as it will face Collins Hill, which advanced with a sweep of Milton.

"(Collins Hill) beat us earlier this year but we're looking forward to it," Keefer said. "At this point, everybody is good and you look for that challenge because you want to play the best."

 Varsity wins against Parkview 10/06/09.
Final Score 2-0

Ace pitching bottled up hot hitting in Tuesday's Region 8-AAAAA softball tournament quarterfinals at Parkview.

Dacula's Allie Miles (9-4) struck out 19 in no-hitting Parkview, as the Falcons won 2-0 and secured a return trip to sectionals. The victory over the Panthers (17-8) advanced the Falcons (12-11) to today's 7 p.m. game against Brookwood, which secured a spot in sectionals by beating Grayson.

"Allie Miles is one of the best in the state," said Falcons coach Tracy Keefer. "When she's on, we have a chance."

Parkview entered the game on a hitting tear that Panthers' coach Joey Farah credited for his team's rebound from a 3-5 start to 17-7 entering the postseason. Sara Coker came in hitting a team-high .414 with a homer and Summer Rose was batting .402 with a round-tripper as well. Sarah McFall was hitting .390.

But all came up empty against Miles, who began the game with a 0.57 ERA and wound up two walks and two hit batters from perfect. She left Parkview fighting for a sectionals bid in today's 5 p.m. game against Shiloh.

The Falcons got all the offense they needed in the top of the sixth inning. Katie McMillian led off with a double to left, and after being sacrificed to third, scored on Alex Payne's single to center. Amber Carr plated Brittany Taylor on a groundout for the final margin. Keefer predicted such a low scoring game, especially with Miles on the rubber opposite Parkview ace Rose (12-3). In 14 years at Dacula, Keefer said she's seen ace pitching often shut down hot hitting teams in the postseason.

"The way pitchers are keeping hitting down lately, one or two runs is often the difference," she said.

 Varsity wins against Brookwood 9/30/09.
Final Score 2-0

Allie Miles struck out 12 batters to lead Dacula to a 2-0 victory over Brookwood on Wednesday. Miles (7-4) allowed three hits.

Charlotte Sieber was 3-for-3, Katie McMillian was 1-for-3 and Alex Payne went 1-for-2 with two RBIs for the Falcons (10-11, 3-3).

Varsity wins against South Gwinnett 9/24/09.
Final Score 10-0

After striking out nine batters and giving up one run, Allie Miles (6-3) picked up the win on the mound for the Falcons as Dacula shut out South Gwinnett 10-0 on Thursday night.

Brittany Taylor went 3-for-3 with an RBI, Taryn Anthony was 2-for-3 with four RBIs and Katlyn Daniels had an RBI for Dacula (9-8-1).

Danyelle Wilson (1-2) got the loss on the mound for South, and Christina Skipper gave up two hits and struck out three batters in relief for the Comets (3-17, 0-5).

 Varsity against Duluth 9/14/09.
Final Score 3-4

 Varsity wins against Central Gwinnett 9/10/09.
Final Score 1-0

Allie Miles pitched a no-hitter to lead Dacula to a 1-0 win over Central Gwinnett in eight innings Thursday. Miles (3-1) struck out 15 to get the win. Brittany Taylor and Charlotte Sieber each had a hit for the Falcons (6-4-1, 1-2).

 Varsity against Parkview 9/09/09.
Final Score 0-2

 Varsity against Shiloh 9/03/09.
Final Score 0-4

 Varsity wins against Mill Creek 9/2.
Final Score 2-0.

Allie Miles (3-0) threw a complete-game, three-hit shutout and struck out 14 as the Falcons (7-2-1) downed the Hawks (4-5-1) on Wednesday.

Amy Russell was 1-for-2 with an RBI and Katie McMillan was 1-for-3 to help pace the Dacula offense.

Tori Mitchell took the loss for Mill Creek despite giving up just one earned run in four innings.

Karlee Beggs had a double for the Hawks, while Chandler Griffin added a hit and a stolen base. Alissa Stringer also had a hit.

Hawk/Bulldog Tournament. 

Dacula tops Warner Robins, Houston Co.

Allie Miles struck out 18 in one of two Dacula wins Saturday as the pitcher picked up a win over Houston County.

Dacula beat Houston County 3-2 off the arm of Miles and the bats of Amber Carr (2-for-4, run) and Katie McMillian (1-for-4). The Falcons also beat Warner Robins 2-0 in a game Jenny Willis only allowed three hits. Brittany Taylor and Nicole Roberts each had a hit.

Dacula lost its other game 3-2 to Milton despite seven strikeouts and two hits allowed by Alex Payne.

Varsity wins against GAC 8/18.
Final Score 3-1.

Dacula starter Allie Miles surrendered one run on one hit Tuesday night in leading the Falcons to a season opening 3-1 win over Greater Atlanta Christian.

Miles also struck out nine, while Brittany Taylor and Alex Payne each led the offense with a 2-for-3 night.