By Kyle Dean/Sports Editor
CHULA — Aaron Estes pitched five strong innings, leading Tiftarea to a region win, 11-1 over Southwest Georgia Academy Thursday at the Panther Pit in Chula.
Estes allowed two hits, while striking out seven over 81 pitches.
"Aaron competes. He went three times to a 3-2 count, and didn't walk them — that's important — he gave us a chance to win. He was fabulous," Tiftarea head coach Chris Howell said.
The Panthers improved to 1-2 with the win — and 1-0 in Region 3-AA play.
The Warriors, who came into the game undefeated at 3-0, fall to 0-1 in the league.
Southwest Georgia scored the game's first run in the top of the first inning.
With one out in the inning, SGA's Parker Adams was hit by an Estes pitch and advanced on an Austin Boyd single.
On the play, the ball was misplayed, allowing the runners to advance to second and third base.
Danny Doster then hit a slow roller to first that scored Adams on the fielder's choice. Estes then struck out Carson Ray to end the threat.
The ball got away from catcher Wes Carter, but the junior catcher threw to third and got Boyd at third, who had roamed too far off third base.
Tiftarea answered with a run in the bottom of the inning.
Chandler Hammond hit a bloop single, stole second and advanced to third on a fielder's choice. Estes then drove him home on a single to tie the game.
Will Smith hit a double to push runners to second and third, but Warrior pitcher Dillon Driver struck out Carter to end the threat.
The Panthers picked up three more runs in the second inning.
Justin Vickers earned a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Eric Lee then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Vickers to give Tiftarea a 2-1 lead.
Hammond then reached on an error, stole second base and was pushed home on a Sumner McWhorter single, giving Tiftarea a 3-1 lead. McWhorter then advanced to second on a errant pickoff attempt.
Clay Tapp then drove him home on an RBI single for a 4-1 lead for Estes and the Panthers.
In the third inning, Tiftarea extended their lead on another sac fly, this one by Vickers.
The inning began with a solid single by Smith. After a Case Pack walk, Lee singled to score Mason Bryant to extend the Panther lead to 6-1.
Bryant came in as a courtesy runner for Carter, who reached on a bunt single.
Two more runs came across in the fourth, when Vickers singled to score Clay Tapp from third with two outs in the inning.
Bryant scored on a wild pitch for Tiftarea to give the Panthers an 8-1 lead.
Tiftarea closed the game in the sixth inning.
Tapp reached second on an error, followed by a single by Will Howell - who pinch hit for Estes. Smith then reached on an error to score Tapp, and and another run scored two batters later on a wild pitch, as Tiftarea led 10-1.
With two outs, Pack walked and the Panthers had runners on first and third.
Coach Chris Howell then sent in Zach Bryant as a pinch hitter. On the first pitch, Zach Bryant drove in brother Mason for the 11-1 mercy rule win.
The Panthers had 10 hits in the game, while the Warriors only had three in the game, as Estes and closer Smith pitched well.
"Put the ball in play, see what they can do with it," coach Howell said.
Tapp and Smith each had two hits to pace the Panthers. Tapp also had an RBI, while Vickers and Lee each added two runs batted in.
The Panthers will host Crisp Academy today at 6 p.m. in a makeup game from earlier this year. Tiftarea will then travel to Macon to face Tattnall on Saturday.
