Panthers host Stephens County Fri.

Athens Christian
After an 11-day layoff, the Jackson County Panthers returned to action Monday night, hosting Athens Christian.

The game started out on a pretty even keel, with both teams getting two runners across early to tie the game 2-2.

In the top of the third, however, Athens Christian got a lead off walk, and followed it with a two run homer to take a 4-2 lead. They extended their lead one inning later to 5-2 with the aid of a Jackson County error.

A squeeze bunt by the Panthers in the fifth cut the lead to two runs with a 5-3 score. But Athens Christian responded by loading the bases with one out in the top of the sixth. A groundball to first was booted, allowing one score to run. A second scored on a ground fly out to center. Athens Christian would get one more across to make it 8-3 before the inning ended.

The Panthers tried once more to rally, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but they got no closer as Athens Christian won 8-6.

Larry Evans recorded the loss, pitching five innings.

Zach Sticher went 2-4 with a double to lead the Panthers at the plate.

“We played terrible,” said coach Tommy Fountain. “(We) made four errors. (We) had horrible approaches at the plate. Athens Christian had 11 hits and we only had 6. We played a lot of small ball early on and that kept us in the game. Some of that may be attributed to the 11-day layoff, but we've still got to get started earlier offensively.”

Jackson County was slated to face Elbert County on Tuesday in a game originally scheduled for today (Wednesday). The game was rescheduled due to incoming inclement weather. Results were not available at press time.