After a rough couple of weeks, the Jackson County Panthers were in need of some good outings to get their ship back on post-season course.
They’ve done just that, picking up a win against Mountain View that moved them back into contention.
Up next is a home stand against the number one team in 8-AAA, the Eastside Eagles.
The Eagles enter the week 10-1 in the region, dropping only one game back on March 26 to Oconee County. The last time the Panthers and Eastside faced off, it was a close contest, with the Eagles coming away with a 6-4 win.
First pitch Friday is scheduled for 5:55 p.m.
Mountain View
The Panthers traveled to Lawrenceville last Wednesday to face the Bears of Mountain View.
Jackson County took an early lead after Rob Williams scored on an RBI single from Austin Robinson. The game would then go scoreless until the bottom of the third, when Mountain View scored twice in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 advantage.
The Panthers would strike again in the top of the fourth, when Rob Williams hit an RBI single with the bases loaded, followed by a two RBI single from John Florentine and an RBI sac fly from Austin Robinson to make it 5-2.
The Bears weren’t ready to fold just yet, however, scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 5-3.
After a scoreless fifth, Jackson County extended their lead as Florentine got an RBI on a sacrifice fly. But in the bottom of the sixth, Mountain View would strike, tying the game 6-6. A scoreless seventh sent the game into extra innings.
The Panthers scored two in the top of the eighth, with RBIs from Rob Williams and Robinson. Mountain View answered by scoring one run in the bottom of the eighth, but could get no closer as Jackson County won 9-7.
Austin Robinson moved to 6-0 with the win, pitching seven innings. Matt Bridgeman recorded his second save of the season.
“This was a huge win,” said coach Tommy Fountain. “Mountain View is playing very well right now. They beat Franklin 13-3 and Elbert 2-1, so for us to go on the road and face a little adversity and walk away with a win to get us back to a tie for fourth was tremendous for our program.”
Hart Co.
On Friday, the Panthers played host to the Hart County Bulldogs.
Hart County took control of the game in the second inning, scoring three runs on a lead off walk, back-to-back misplayed bunts, and RBI single and a double steal. The Bulldogs added another run in the third inning.
The Panthers got a run across in the fourth when Rob Williams scored on an RBI by Quinn Grogan. Jackson County would threaten again in the seventh, but would get no closer as Hart County won 4-1.
Matt Bridgemen recorded the loss, giving up just four hits through six innings.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald or The Braselton News.
