MEADVILLE — KeKe Collins made play after play, and the FranklinCounty Lady Bulldogs swept St. Patrick’s Lady Irish in the firstround of the Class 3A State Slowpitch Softball Playoffs. FCHS won10-4 and 8-1 Tuesday.

The Lady Dawgs (16-6) will play host to Clarkdale Saturday at 5 ina

best-of-3 series at Meadville’s Shortstop Fields.

Collins, a junior shortstop, made the field her own personalplayground against visiting St. Patrick of Biloxi in Game One.Collins had two singles and a double, plus turning several craftyplays on defense.

“KeKe played really well,” said FC head coach Dana Smith, who isassisted by her husband Mickey Smith. “We played great as a team.The best we’ve played all year.”

FCHS had 14 hits in Game One. Senior Kenyatte Hunt had two doubles,while Tammy Alexander added a double and two singles. Toni Robinsonadded three singles.

Pitcher Mildred Starks collected the win, going the distance forthe Lady Dawgs and allowing six hits.

Madison Wrich and Ashley Davis led St. Patrick with three singlesapiece.

In Game Two, the Lady Dawgs took a quick 4-0 lead in the firstinning and never looked back. They added three runs in the thirdand two in the fourth.

Lay Lay Griffin led the team with a home run and three singles.Destiney Dedeaux and Tammy Alexander each added four singles.Kenyatte Hunt had three singles.

“Overall we played well tonight,” added Smith. “We played soliddefense and hit the ball pretty well. Mildred had a solidperformance on the mound and her defense did their job aswell.”

Last year, FC lost to Clarkdale in the second round of the playoffson the road. Coach Smith feels good about her team’s chancesheading into the rematch.

“They come to us this year,” said Smith. “We’ve got a really goodbunch, that’s been working really hard. I like our chances.”