The Richmond Hill softball team held batting practice Monday for players who were available, then held it again Friday night against Jonesboro in the first round of the GHSA tournament.

The Wildcats had more than 10 hits in both games at home shortened by the mercy rule, winning at home 19-1 and 17-0.

“That’s about the best we’ve done against slower pitching all year,” said Coach Angie Hummeldorf. “The girls showed great patience at the plate.”

Richmond Hill now hosts Dalton at 5 and 7 p.m. Wednesday. A time for the “if necessary” game on Thursday has not been set yet.

The Catamounts knocked the Wildcats out of the AAAAA tournament last year in three games to advance to the Elite Eight.

“We have a scouting report on them because they returned all their starters,” Hummeldorf said. “They beat us with home runs, so that’s something we’ll have to be aware of with our pitchers.”

After giving up a run in the top of the first inning in game one to Jonesboro, Richmond Hill scored 16 runs in the bottom of the inning before making an out. Cheznie Schuman, Adrianna Garrett, Hannah Fitzgerald, Madelyn Gorsuch and Hayley Taylor all reached base safely twice in the inning.

“We responded well after they scored first,” Hummeldorf said. “We just focused on playing our game.”

The first three batters for Richmond Hill reached base safely in the bottom of the second inning in game one and intentionally left first base early to get called out in a show of sportsmanship by the Wildcats. Hummeldorf instructed her team to do the same in the top of the third inning in game two (teams alternate home and visitor each game during the state tournament).

Richmond Hill scored five runs each in the first and second innings of game two and seven runs in the third.

Darrien Christian picked up the win in both games. The Wildcats are now 19-9.