ACE softball defeats Dublin 8-0 in former head coach McLendon’s return to Macon

Some games just mean more, and Thursday night’s softball matchup between ACE and Dublin was one of them.

The game marked former Gryphons athletic director Josh McLendon’s — and the McLendon family’s — first return to ACE as a visitor since McLendon left the program at the end of the 2024-25 school year. McLendon coached the Gryphons for eight years, leading them to a state championship in 2021. 

ACE got the last laugh in McLendon’s return, however, as the Gryphons offense rolled early and eventually defeated the Irish 8-0.

ACE coach Andrew Claxton has to walk past that state championship sign each time he enters the ACE dugout. 

Dublin assistant coach Dickie Horton also coached at ACE last year. Nearly all the ACE players played for McLendon during their high school careers.

ACE and Dublin are region opponents, with both chasing Bleckley County and East Laurens in the playoff race.

So, yes, there was a lot on the line entering Thursday’s matchup.

Giselle Giles pitched a masterful first inning for the Gryphons, striking out former teammate Jaymi Kate McLendon to start the game, then striking out Emily Maddox and  coaxing Addy Bardell into a weak grounder. Shortstop Sophie Denney scooped up the ball and connected with first baseman Lizzy Gardiner for the final out.

Two of Dublin’s starters were injured, which meant third baseman Bri Daniels took the circle for the Irish. Senior Avery Stone led off the bottom of the first for ACE, drawing a walk and then stealing second. Kinsley Lineberger lined out to short and Stone broke for third. The catcher’s throw sailed into left field, the first of three errors for the Irish in the inning. 

Reese Thames and Sophie Denney then singled for the Gryphons. Thames scored on another Irish error, while Thames advanced to second base.  Kayleigh Kell then drew the second walk of the inning, putting two runners on base. Giselle Giles doubled for ACE, driving in the third run of the inning. Ella Allen popped up to Daniels for the second out of the frame.

Emma Balkcom slapped a ball to short, but a throwing error allowed her to reach base and let the Gryphons plate two more runs, extending the lead to 5-0. Ava Allen drew the third Gryphon walk of the inning, bringing leadoff batter Stone back to the plate. Her slap hit attempt popped up and Dublin’s catcher snagged the fly ball to end the inning.

Staked to a 5-0 lead, ACE coach Andrew Claxton went to his bullpen, bringing in junior Avery Edalgo. Edalgo walked opposing pitcher Daniels, then caught Anya Stanley looking on a called third strike for the first out. Lizzie Brantley connected for a deep fly ball to center field, but Stone easily made the catch for the second out. Another walk by Edalgo to Kendall Chapman put runners on first and second, but Edalgo rallied and struck out Mylee Wicker swinging to end the Irish threat.

Lineberger drilled a single down the left field line to start the bottom of the second inning and stole second, putting herself in scoring position for Thames. 

Thames lifted a ball to center field, but the Irish centerfielder camped under it for the first out. Sophie Denney doubled to the left field wall, scoring Lineberger easily. A wild pitch allowed Denney to advance to third before Kayleigh Kell’s keen eye and patience resulted in her second walk of the game. Another Irish error  brought Denney home from third, putting the Gryphons up 7-0.  Dublin’s defense settled in, however, with Ella Allen flying out to short and Balkcom grounding out to third to end the inning.

Edalgo opened the top of the third with back to back called strikeouts and then coaxed Maddox into a fly ball to left field to set the Irish down in order.

Allen then led off the bottom of the third for the Gryphons, but hit a comebacker to the mound that Daniels flicked to first. Stone then slapped the ball down the third base line for what appeared to be a single, but she was instead called out by the home plate umpire for being out of the box. 

Lineberger reached first on another Irish error and then stole second as Thames batted. Thames lifted a ball to center field, but the Irish centerfielder misjudged the ball for the fifth Dublin error of the game. Lineberger raced home, extending the lead to 8-0. Denney then flew out to former teammate McLendon, who raced into foul territory to snag the final out of the inning.

The fourth inning was relatively quiet with neither team able to generate any offense. After Edalgo got Bardell to fly out, a walk and then ACE’s only error of the game resulted in two Irish baserunners. Edalgo showed her resolve on the next two batters, however, with a groundout to the pitcher and another called strikeout.

ACE only managed a walk in the bottom of the fourth.

Edalgo continued her relief performance in the top of the fifth, needing three outs to secure the win for the Gryphons. Dublin needed one run to extend the game. Edalgo struck out Wicker for the first out, and then Rainna Wyatt popped out to second. 

Former ACE player Jaymi Kate McLendon entered the batter’s box as Dublin’s last gasp. After a couple of strikes, McLendon lifted a ball over second for a base hit, Dublin’s lone hit of the game. Emily Maddox connected on a long fly ball, but centerfielder Stone snagged it at the fence to end the game.

On extending the game for Dublin, Jaymi Kate McLendon said she was “happy to get that hit in her last at bat”.

“I just wanted him to be proud of me and the work I’m putting in,” Stone said of facing her former coach.

Coach McLendon said didn’t think the game at ACE meant more due to his return, but that it meant more because it was a region game against a talented team.

With play concluded, players and coaches alike hugged it out. The camaraderie then moved to Your Pie with Dublin and ACE sharing a meal.