After a break in action due to last week’s wintry weather, the Jackson County Panthers came back with some hot plays to split their next two games against Osborne and Clarke Central during the Panthers Diamond Day on Saturday.
Next up for Jackson County is a trip to Athens where they’ll face the Athens Christian Eagles on Thursday.
The Eagles are looking to put the brakes on a three-game losing streak, while the Panthers hope to add to their early season win tally.
First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Osborne
The Panthers started off Saturday’s “Diamond Day” by hosting the Osborne Cardinals at noon.
After a scoreless first inning, Jackson County drew first blood by putting a runner across in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0 lead.
Osborne responded in the top of the third, however, putting three runs on the board to take a two run lead. Both teams’ bats fell silent for the bottom of the third and the top of the fourth.
But the Panthers struck back hard in the bottom of the fourth, as they scored six runs to take a commanding 7-3 lead. They would pad that lead by one more run as they held the Cardinals scoreless through the rest of the game. The Panthers would end up pocketing an 8-3 victory for their second consecutive win.
John Florentine recorded the win on the mound, pitching five innings and giving up four hits. Austin Robinson and Codye Elrod led the Panthers offense, as both went 2-3 with an RBI.
Clarke Central
The Panthers wrapped up their day with the nightcap against Clarke Central, who had also defeated Osborne earlier in the day.
After two scoreless innings, the Gladiators got on the board first, putting two runners across in the top of the third. Jackson County answered by putting a run on the board in the bottom of the inning. But the Panthers’ bats fell silent through the fourth and the fifth, while Clarke Central added two more runs to their tally, then four more in the top of the sixth.
Jackson County mounted a valiant comeback effort, as they put up five runs, capped off by a grand slam by Rob Williams.
Still down by two in the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers loaded the bases with two outs. A line drive by Robinson looked like the break Jackson County needed, but it was snagged by Clarke Central’s shortstop in a diving stop, ending the Panthers’ comeback, and giving the Gladiators an 8-6 victory.
Devin Elliott recorded the loss, going 3 1/3 innings and giving up eight hits and four runs. Williams came on in relief, striking out seven and giving up one hit.
The loss leaves the Panthers 2-2 on the season.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald or The Braselton News.
