Jewel Sumner scored four runs in the first inning en route to topping Vidalia 10-0 in five innings in the opening round the LHSAA Class 3A playoffs, knocking the Lady Vikings out of the playoffs.

Hannah Harveston came in for relief and  struck out four batters.

“She did a very good job tonight,” VHS coach Forrest Foster said of his freshman pitcher.

Shelbi Cross got the lone Lady Vikings hit.

Vidalia (7-15) is losing just two players from its playoff team, Madison Johnston and Katlyn McCarver. While Foster said he’s sad to see the duo depart, he remains excited for what potentially lies ahead.

“(Johnston and McCarver) were really good at keeping the girls bonded all year long,” he said. “We have some really good kids coming back. It’s a good junior class and a big sophomore class. We’re going to be a lot more experienced next year.”

The Lady Vikings will be making the transition from Class 3A to 2A, and Foster said he expects big things on the horizon.

“They saw tonight what it takes to compete with upperclass teams,” he said. “We played some very good 2A teams this year, but we should fair much better just from a day-to-day schedule (next year). I’m looking forward to it.”