Jackson County senior Andy Williams lived it.
In the bottom of the seventh with the game tied at four between Jackson County and Oglethorpe County, Williams went after a pitch he should not have and showed frustration by slamming his bat onto the ground. With a 2-2 count and senior Quinn Grogan on second, Panther fans waited in anticipation.
Williams regained his composure, stepped to the plate and the Oglethorpe pitcher let the ragged ball fly.
Williams knocked the cover off the ball heading towards right center field. Grogan rounded third and easily made it home. Panthers (10-8, 6-6) won 5-4 and Jackson County Comprehensive High School sounded like Turner Field with the noise that erupted after the walk-off double.
Williams lived the dream and what better night — Senior Night.
“It's been a long journey, to go out like that with a walk-off double — it’s surreal,” Williams said.
It was a rough start for the Panther's Senior Night with some errors early that gave Oglethorpe two runs.
Senior Kolin Zimmer started on the mound and struggled early with a few a walks in the third inning. Jackson County coach, Tommy Fountain, made a pitching change and brought about senior Jesse Tallent.
“He [Tallent] pitched lights out,” Fountain said.
In only two and a third innings, Tallent was able to rack up five strikeouts against Patriots.
The fourth inning proved to be the momentum shift with Oglethorpe County leading 2-1 heading into the inning.
Tallent legged out a single to lead off the inning. Senior catcher Trey Sorrells then piped out a double that put Tallent on third.
Senior Jalen Banks was able to get a triple off an error because an Oglethorpe player threw the ball over the third baseman's head and into the dugout. That brought in Tallent and Sorrells for 3-2 Jackson County lead.
Junior Chase Dunlap hit a sacrifice fly that would bring in Banks for the 4-2 comeback.
But the Patriots were not ready to throw in the towel just yet.
In the top of the seventh, Oglethorpe County strung together a few hits but what put them back in the game was almost a game-ending error from Jackson County, one that Oglethorpe actually made earlier in the game.
Throwing the ball into the dugout had sent one of the Patriots home. On top of that, Oglethorpe hit a lazy grounder out to right and what was supposed to be a routine out but the ball was bobbled and gave the Patriots enough time to get a runner home and tie the game at four.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers huddled.
“I told them, they let them back into the game, if they don't end it now, there is no telling what will happen,” Fountain said.
The Panthers did just that. Grogan was able to get a quick single and then Williams finished it off with the walk-off double to beat the Patriots 5-4.
This improves the Panthers to 10-8. Despite missing the playoffs by just a game, they still have the opportunity to produce the best season in Jackson County history.
The Panthers travel to take on Washington Wilkes on Monday.
