The Jackson County Panthers are looking to end their season on a high note.
Despite a good overall season that’s seen the Panthers go 12-11 going into this week, their region record hasn’t reflected that effort, with a 5-11 record going into this week.
The Panthers have one more shot to end their season on the same terms that they began it. That will come Thursday, when they travel to Lawrenceville to face the Archer Tigers.
First pitch is scheduled for 5:55 p.m.
Morgan County
Last Wednesday, the Panthers played their final home game of the season by hosting the Bulldogs of Morgan County.
Jackson County was looking to stop the skid they had been on since April ninth that had turned into a four game losing streak. Despite having lost to Morgan County back on March 26, the Panthers were hoping to find a little luck on senior night.
It didn’t work out that way, however, as Morgan County threw a four-hitter from the mound while finding success at the plate.
Morgan County held a 2-0 lead going into the sixth, when they put five more runners across, putting the game out of reach for the Panthers. In the end, the Bulldogs won 7-0.
Rob Williams recorded the loss from the mound, giving up two runs and five hits through five innings. The loss leaves Williams 1-2 on the year.
“We played well defensively, only making one error in the last inning, but we just couldn’t put anything together at the plate,” said coach Tommy Fountain.
Elbert County
On Friday, the Panthers traveled to Elberton to face the Blue Devils of Elbert County.
The previous game had been a win for Jackson County, so hopes were high at getting back in the win column for the Panther Nation.
Elbert County took control early, moving ahead 3-0. The score remained the same in the top of the fifth after the Panthers threatened, but stranded runners on second and third.
The Blue Devils put three more runs across in the bottom of the fifth. Ryan Shekey took to the mound in relief of Austin Robinson and got the Panthers out of the inning without further damage.
Jackson County came up with their first two runs of the night in the top of the sixth and was threatening more with the bases loaded. But all three runners were stranded, keeping the Panthers four runs down.
Quinn Grogan came on in relief on the mound in the bottom of the inning, but gave up three runs to the Blue Devils.
In the top of the seventh, the Panthers began rallying, cutting the lead to 9-5. Jackson County was threatening again, with runners on second and third, but they would be left stranded again, as the Blue Devils won 9-5.
Austin Robinson recorded the loss, going 6-3 so far on the year.
Trey Sorrells put a three run homerun out of the park late to help the Panthers threaten in the last two innings.
“They threw a kid that threw sidearm and threw as slow as anybody we’ve faced all year,” Fountain said. “After facing two guys throwing mid 80s the first two games of the week, it took us a while to adjust.”
“We just had a lot of missed opportunities offensively and defensively,” Fountain added. “We stranded seven runners in the last three innings. They took advantage of six stolen bases.”
Fountain said in the last two weeks, there’s been something different in every game.
“We’ve got one more week left,” he said. “We’ve got to keep plugging along. I think when we lost the second game in a row last week and were knocked out of the playoff race, it did something to our confidence. We haven’t been able to get it back. We’ve got two more games to get that swagger back.”
Oconee County
On Tuesday, the Panthers traveled to Watkinsville to face the Warriors of Oconee County.
Jackson County had been looking to turn their luck around with a late season surge.
It didn’t happen on this day, however, as the Warriors won their 11th straight game by defeating the Panthers 9-2.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald or The Braselton News.
