Round one went to Perry. Round two benefitted Spalding. The first was a 2-1 win in eight innings for the Panthers over the Jaguars. That was on Tuesday in Griffin. Friday, in Perry, Spalding won 9-6.
Initially it appeared five runs might carry the weight. The Jaguars scored those in the second. (An error – one of three – and a hit batsman certainly didn’t help the Panthers’ effort.) It had also turned two double plays against Perry in three innings, so it was beginning to look like there was the question of whether or not it would even score.
It did. Handily, actually, answering Spalding’s five with five of its own in the fourth. Jacob Hunt (2-3 with a run scored and an RBI) started it with a single. After a groundout and a stolen base, Clayton Davis (2-4) drove him in. Davis moved to second on Andrew Tarrer’s (3-4 with a run scored) single and scored on Chase Padgett’s (1-4 with two RBI) single. Caleb Battles (0-2) reached on an error that also allowed Tarrer to score and then with two out Jackson Farrell singled and John Micah Law and Hunt walked to bring in the final run.
Unfortunately for Panther fans, the Jaguars went back on top with two in the fifth. They also added a run in the sixth and seventh, while Perry, which out-hit Spalding 13-12, pushed its final run across, also in the seventh.
The win got Spalding on top in Region 2-AAAA with West Laurens. Both are 7-4 (12-6 overall for the Jaguars).
The Panthers fell to 5-6, 10-13 overall. They began the day right in the heart of the standings, but ended it in fifth. (But still with another crack at Spalding April 11 and three games with a 2-9 Howard team before region competition comes to a close.)
Elsewhere, Houston County saddled Lee County with its first Region 1-AAAAAA loss. Unfortunately, it came via a doubleheader at the home of the Trojans, and the latter also got the early win in a 5-0 shutout.
With an 8-3 win over the Bears back on April 4, the Trojans hold the edge in the standings. They are 5-1 (15-8 overall), while Houston County is 5-4 (9-14) and in third behind Valdosta, which is 6-3 (14-6).
The Bears still have two division games left to play against Northside, which is 1-5 (9-11). The Eagles lost today’s game – Senior Day – at home against Jones County, 9-4.
Warner Robins’ struggles also continue. The Demons lost twice at Bainbridge Friday, 11-1 in five innings and 10-0 in seven. They fell to 0-8, 6-18, while the Bearcats improved to just 3-7, 12-11.
Currently Thomas County Central holds the edge in the region – 1-AAAAA. The Yellow Jackets hosted and split contests with Veterans Friday. The Warhawks won the first game 7-1 but were edged out in the second 10-9. Thomas County Central also got the edge the first time they played, back on March 3. The Yellow Jackets pulled that one out 2-1 in nine innings.
They are now 8-2 in the division, 12-11 overall, while Veterans is 7-3, 18-7. The Warhawks will finish their region schedule April 14 with a doubleheader at Warner Robins.
