Despite recording their first loss of the season, it was still a strong week for the Panthers of Jackson County, who went on to record a win against Stephens County, then just missed another win against Eastside Monday.
That leaves the Panthers 9-2 overall, and 2-2 in the region.
Up next for Jackson County is a trip to Covington to face the Eastside Eagles. Eastside enters play this week in the midst of a five-game winning streak, including a 12-2 victory over Franklin County last week.
First pitch is scheduled for 5:55 p.m.
Hart County
Things started off well enough for the Panthers last Wednesday, as they traveled to Hart County to face the Bulldogs.
Rob Williams got the first run on the board for Jackson County by stealing home in the top of the first inning.
Hart County struck back in the bottom of the second, scoring six runs to make it a 6-1 game. The Bulldogs extended that lead to 8-1 in the bottom of the third.
The Panthers began trying to work their way back into contention, cutting the lead to 8-2 in the top of the fifth. Hart County responded in the top of the inning by putting two more runs across to make it a 10-2 game.
The Panthers scored once more in the top of the sixth, as Quinn Grogan scored on an RBI single from Kelly Moates to make it a seven-run deficit. But the Panthers would get no closer, as the Bulldogs won 10-3.
Larry Evans recorded the win from the mound, making him 2-1 on the year.
The Panthers made seven errors on the night and went 1-11 with runners in scoring position.
“We played awful defensively and our four and five hitters went 0-8 with five strikeouts, including 0-7 with runners in scoring position,” coach Tommy Fountain said. “Everybody else combined for 10 hits and only one strikeout.”
“We did a great job setting the table,” Fountain added. “We got guys on, we bunted, and we hit and ran, and moved them over. We simply forgot how to score them. We can’t let that happen again.”
Stephens County
The Panthers returned home on Friday to play host to the Stephens County Indians.
After a scoreless first inning, the Indians struck first blood by scoring two runners to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Jackson County responded immediately, scoring five runs, including an RBI single by Andy Williams. That was followed by a double steal by Quinn Grogan and pinch runner Jalen Banks that scored Grogan. Rob Williams also delivered a two RBI double.
Stephens County would respond by scoring one run in the top of the third. Jackson County countered by scoring two more in the bottom of the inning, including an RBI by Grogan, and another double steal that scored pinch runner Austin Gabriel.
The Indians again cut into the lead by scoring three in the fourth, making it 7-6, but the Panthers added two more runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to make it 9-6.
Both teams went scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings. Stephens County looked to make a late rally, scoring two runners in the top of the seventh, but would get no closer, as Jackson County won their ninth game of the season, 9-8.
Austin Robinson scored the win, his fourth of the year.
“We had moments where we looked really good,” Fountain said. “Third baseman Ken Miller made an unreal diving stop to end one inning and shortstop Rob Williams made a great backhanded play to end another inning.”
“All in all, we came back after a tough loss and could have folded when they jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but we retook the lead in the second and every time they responded, we responded and stretched it back out. It was a fun game to watch.”
Eastside
Up next was a trip to Covington to face the Eastside Eagles on Monday.
Things got off to a good start for the Panthers, as they moved out to a two-run lead in the top of the first courtesy of a two RBI single from Quinn Grogan.
The Eagles answered by scoring one run in the bottom of the inning, then getting two more runs across in the third and another in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead.
Things started to look better for Jackson County in the top of the fifth. Andy Williams walked, and was followed by a two-run homer by Kelly Moates to tie the game 4-4.
Eastside would break the tie quickly by adding two more in the fifth to make it a 6-4 game.
Pitcher Ryan Shekey worked a scoreless bottom of the sixth, striking out two in the process. The Panthers threatened in the top of the seventh, but would get no closer, as Eastside won 6-4.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald or The Braselton News.
