After a shutout loss to North Cobb Christian School on Aug. 20, the Pinecrest Academy girls softball team defeated Furtah Preparatory Academy 17-4 in their second game of the season (and the team’s first home game at Sharon Springs Park in Forsyth County) Sept. 4.

Eighth-grader Katerina Saker pitched five innings with three strikeouts. Eighth-grade shortstop Jenna Barkie provided an offensive spark for the team, drawing three walks and contributing one run batted in (RBI). Junior first baseman Danielle Anderson also chipped in three RBIs for the game.

This is Pinecrest Academy’s first season for softball, and the young team plays only one senior, third baseman Allie Gonzales. In an e-mail the day after the game, first-year coach Neva Samples said, “Yesterday was a very big win for us. It marks the first-ever win for the Pinecrest softball team. Since this is our inaugural year, it meant a tremendous amount to our team to get our first win at home with so many fans there. These girls have worked so hard since the end of July to get this win. We are looking forward to the rest of the season. If we continue to work hard, good things will happen.”

Pinecrest has seven more regular season games on the schedule before the playoffs in October. The team travels to Fairburn Sept. 6 to face Arlington Christian School.