Staff Reports



VALDOSTA — The Tifton Tomboys 16-and-under softball team won the CAMFAST Wild Adventures Softball Tournament this past weekend.

It was the second strong performance for the team in the past month as the Tomboys took second in the “I Love You Mom” Tournament held in Jackson on May 11.

Tifton won the Valdosta tournament with a 7-4 win over the Aftershock. Pitcher Brittany London won the game for the Tomboys. Brandi Ruis picked up the save pitching a perfect three final innings.

The Tomboys committed eight errors in game one of the tournament. The result was a 4-1 loss to the Tallahassee Merchants. Ruis was the losing pitcher. She gave up four hits, struck out nine and walked one in the contest. All four of the runs were unearned.

Tifton was the beneficiary of a generous pitching staff in game two of the Valdosta tourney. The Tomboys used 12 walks to take a 11-1 victory over the Lady Canes in that game. Pitching just three innings due to the “mercy” rule, Jennifer Spradley struck out six, gave up one hit and walked one to the take the win.

To get into the title game Tifton defeated the Cordele Crushers, 6-0. Ruis went the distance in the game. She struck out six and walked none.

Shea Weaver was the leading hitter for Tifton in the tournament as she went 9-for-11 in the four games. Darby Pilkinton also added three hits during the four games.

At the Mother’s Day tournament in Jackson, Tifton opened up with an 18-0 win over the Panthers. Ruis and Spradley combined on a one-hit shutout.

Ruis then went the distance in game two for the Tomboys, a 5-1 win over the X-plosives. She struck out four, walked two and allowed one hit in the game.

After recording a third win by forfeit, the Tomboys defeated the Intruders, 9-5. Ruis came in during the first inning and stayed in to be the winning pitcher in that contest.

That put Tifton in the title game against the Crushers. The Crushers took advantage of Tomboy errors to win 3-0. All three of the runs were unearned. Pilkinton got the only hit in the game for Tifton. Ruis took the loss, giving up two hits and two walks.

Ruis with seven hits and Weaver with five led the Tomboys in hits during the tournament. Pilkinton, Carly Veazey, Glenna Ruth Parkman and Macie Hood each added three hits apiece.

Other members of the Tomboys team are Brittany Eidson, Kade Rodgers and Jackie Stripling.