The strong start to the season continues for the Jackson County Panthers, as they go 7-0 overall after picking up four victories last week, including one over East Jackson.
Up next for the Panthers is a Thursday home stand that is also a rematch over their most recent victims, the Spartans of West Hall.
First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Johnson
Coming off a victory just days earlier off of the Knights, the Panthers were looking to extend their winning streak when they hit the field last Thursday against Johnson.
The Panthers took control early, scoring four runs in the top of the first. Johnson answered by scoring two runs, but would then face a drought at the plate through the next three innings. Jackson County, meanwhile, added another run in the top of the third, two more in the top of the fourth and an additional two in the top of the fifth to pad their lead. The Knights scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but would move no closer. After a scoreless sixth inning, the Panthers put the nail in the coffin by scoring five runs in the top of the seventh, and would go on to win 14-5.
Larry Evans picked up the win, making him 2-0 on the season. He pitched four innings, giving up two hits and striking out six batters.
Austin Robinson led at the plate with four hits and three RBIs. Trey Sorrels had one home run and three RBIs. Quinn Grogan had two hits and two RBIs.
Osborne
Up next was a Saturday game, as the Panthers played host to the Cardinals of Osborne.
Things started off on an even keel, with both teams scoring one run in the first inning. After holding the Cardinals scoreless in the top of the second, the Eagles took the lead when Ken Miller scored on a Trey Sorrells single to give East Jackson a 2-1 edge.
Osborne’s bats came to life in the top of the third, scoring five runs to make it a 6-2 game. The Panthers responded by scoring three in the bottom of the third on a three-run homer from Zach Sticher, cutting the lead to just one run.
After a scoreless sixth, the Panthers contained the Cardinals in the top of the fifth, and then scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to move out to a five-run advantage. That’s where it would stay through the final two innings, as the Panthers won 11-6.
Ryan Shekey picked up the win, pitching three innings in relief and giving up one hit while striking out two.
Sticher led at the plate with three hits and five RBIs. Alston Robinson had three hits and one RBI. John Florentine had two hits and one RBI.
East Jackson
Up next for the Panthers was a pairing Saturday afternoon with their in-county rivals, the Eagles of East Jackson.
The Panthers jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a double by Ken Miller brought in Rob Williams and Austin Robinson in the top of the first. The Panthers added three more runs in the third, when a grounder by Trey Sorrells scored two runs. An RBI single from Andy Williams extended Jackson County’s lead out to 5-0.
The Panthers added their final run of the day in the fourth inning, Quinn Grogan was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing in a run to make it 6-0.
The Eagles would try to surge late, adding two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, but would get no closer as Jackson County won 6-3.
Austin Robinson recorded the win, allowing two hits and sitting down 11 batters in five innings.
Robinson also led at the plate with two hits in four at bats, including a double. Ken Miller had one hit and two RBIs. Andy Williams had one hit and two RBIs.
West Hall
Next up for the Panthers was a trip to Oakwood to face the Spartans of West Hall.
Jackson County took control early, scoring three runs in the first inning, then adding four more in the second. It was more of the same in the third inning, as the Panthers added four more runs, including an RBI single from Austin Robinson, and an RBI double from Zach Sticher. Jackson County added two more to their total in the fourth.
West Hall cut into the lead and extended the game by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Panthers scored one run in the top of the sixth when Larry Evans scored on an RBI single from Rob Williams. That ended the game early on the mercy rule, as Jackson County won 14-4.
John Florentine recorded the victory, giving up two hits and striking out six in four innings.
Rob Williams led at the plate, with two hits and two RBIs. Austin Robinson had two hits and one RBI. Ken Miller had one hit and two RBIs. Zach Sticher had one hit and one RBI.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald or The Braselton News.
