Panthers pelt Valwood, 13-5

Published 11:00 am Friday, March 25, 2022

CHULA – Tiftarea Academy won its first region series of the year Thursday night, defeating Valwood and some rain clouds, 13-5.

The teams had split Tuesday in the GISA Region 3-AAA debuts for both.

Thursday, Hayden Murphy and Matthew Malone homered and Jam Presley worked three efficient relief innings to earn the save for Robert Garner.

“Robert coming out,” said head coach Dusty Griffis, “his first region start, he did a good job.”

Griffis said the team was blessed to be able to get through Thursday without weather issues. A brief shower fell in the 6th, but not enough to stop play.

Valwood scored a run in the top of the 1st, Conner Hutto singling in Matthew Kerrigan. That advantage held all of a few minutes.

Hitting leadoff, Malone homered on the second pitch he saw to make it 1-1. Two more runs followed.

Murphy walked and moved up two bases on wild pitches before scoring on an error off the bat of Hershel Moore, who advanced all the way to second. John Jackson singled in courtesy runner William Garner and Tiftarea had a lead it would not relinquish.

The Panthers scored at least one run in the first five innings. Two crossed in both the 2nd and the 3rd.

It was a two-out rally in the former frame, the big blow being a two-RBI triple by Murphy to centerfield. Scoring were Presley and Malone, who each continued the inning with base hits.

Murphy was up with the bases loaded in the third when the Valiants uncorked a wild pitch to score John Austin Lee. The Valiants then muffed a ball off Murphy’s bat, bringing home Wesley Malone.

The two runs in the 3rd put some distance on a Valwood comeback effort, one that could have gone much worse for the locals.

Dalton Smith, Hutto and Jack Drew filled the bases with no outs. Robert Garner got the next two outs without damage but Cole Belue dinked a double to right to score two. Garner then collected himself and fanned his next man. The Panthers would have no worrisome moments after.

Valwood added a run in the 4th, a Smith sacrifice fly to drive in Kerrigan. The Panthers countered with Lane Cole doubling in William Garner (again running for Moore) in the bottom half.

Tiftarea nearly ended it in the bottom of the 5th. Up 8-4, they scored five times. A perfect throw from Drew home after a two-out Presley double stopped the Panthers from earning a mercy rule.

The Panthers’ portion of the 5th started with firepower. Matthew Malone doubled and Murphy walloped a pitch over the centerfield fence, just to the right of the batter’s eye.

Logan Moore singled and was nearly left on the bases, but Cole had a hit over third and Moore, running at the crack of the bat, was able to score easily.

Lee walked and Wesley Malone doubled in Cole. Presley’s double brought home Lee for run No. 13, but the potential 14th ended with a tag at the plate.

“They just keep fighting,” said Griffis about that play. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Valwood.”

Before and after the run explosion, Presley was mowing through Valwood hitters. He got them in order in the 5th and struck out two in the 6th.

“He’s been great relief for us,” said Griffis. “Sometimes, it’s hard to take him out of the field, but he’s done an excellent job in relief appearances.”

The top of the 7th saw A.J. Thompson drive in Smith for the final Valiant tally.

Murphy drove in four runs for Tiftarea. Matthew Malone had three hits and scored three runs. Murphy, Cole and Presley notched two hits each.

Griffis was especially proud of how his players hit for contact. They only struck out once.

Valwood finished with five hits. Kerrigan and Smith scored two runs apiece.

“I give credit to Valwood,” he said. “They are an excellent-coached team. Coach (Robert) Shipman is an excellent coach. They battled us every game. They’ve got a good squad.”

Tiftarea heads to Northside of Warner Robins Tuesday for two games. Griffis said they were made up a bit for two non-region doubleheaders canceled by rain.