South Forsyth got off to a scorching start in Region 7-AAAA play Tuesday, jumping out to a big, early lead on visiting Forsyth Central and going on to a run-rule shortened 8-0 win on the South campus.

The game was the region opener for both teams.

South coach Ronnie Davis saw his team score six runs in the first three innings and give starter Alexa Ditmar (CG, 2H, BB, 5K) plenty of cushion.

“Anytime that you can get out [in front] early, it really helps out with pitching. They know they can get after hitters and really be aggressive,” Davis said.

Kaylyn Young hurt Central dearly, going 3-for-4 with five RBI and scoring a run. Her single in the bottom of the sixth drove in two runs to make the game 8-0 and invoke the run rule.

Central coach Bill Richardson said falling into an early hole made facing Ditmar an even bigger challenge.

“It’s difficult because she is so good and we’re just so young,” he said.

“They are obviously a very, very good team and they’re potentially the best team on our side of the region, and I think they’re a playoff team.”

Richardson also credited his girls for their effort in the loss.

“We had Hannah [Moran] diving for a ball in left field. That was just one of those seeing eye dogs that nobody probably gets, but she’s busting her backside and diving to try to get it,” he said.

South got out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, when Caitlyn Reeves dropped a single between two fielders in left-center with the bases loaded.

Hesitance in the field cost Central in a three-run bottom of the second. On consecutive plays, the Lady Bulldogs gave up chances to throw out the batter in favor of unsuccessful attempts to catch base runners off the bag.

As a result, South loaded the bases with a leadoff Rachel Myers (2-for-3) single and the back-to-back unsuccessful fielder’s choice plays. After Allison White flew out, Young stepped to the plate and drove in all three runners with a hard-hit arc to right-center that went for a triple.

Meaghan Rud drove in Allie Baccari with a sac fly in the bottom of the third to stretch the lead to 6-0.

Davis gave his team credit for putting pressure on Central’s defense throughout the game.

“Anytime that you put the ball [in play], especially on the ground, you make somebody field it cleanly, you make them make a good throw and you make the other person catch. That’s the most difficult [ball to field]. ... There’s a lot of people that can make popups,” he said.

Allye Ingram toughed out the full six innings for Central, sitting down nine straight batters in a solid stretch between the third and fifth innings.