Bryan clears bases, Lady Panthers win 6-2

Published 8:00 am Friday, August 5, 2022

CHULA – Elaine Mercer kept battling Thursday afternoon. There were two outs when Mercer stood at the plate in the bottom of the 6th and her Tiftarea Academy Lady Panthers were tied 2-2 with Westwood.

The Lady Panthers had scored one run in the inning, a double by Hannah Grace Murphy that had scored Ali Strenth. Murphy moved to third, then scored on a pair of wild pitches. Haylee Grace Cole kept the inning alive on a single, but her pinch runner, Jolee Paulk, was at first, but there were still two outs.

The count was full on Mercer. She fouled off another and then, fortunately, found a pitch that was not to her liking. Ball four put a second runner on and brought Tiftarea back to the top of its order.

Isabel Fernandez took advantage with a single, filling the bases for Elli Bryan. She doubled over first base, clearing everyone.

The 2-1 deficit had turned into a 6-2 lead. That was more than enough for Pyper McCard, who finished off the Lady Wildcats 1-2-3 in the 7th.

“She competed,” said head coach Rob Flick of Mercer’s at-bat

Flick admitted his squad didn’t have its “A-game” against Westwood.

The first five frames were a pitching duel, McCard against Robby Vann.

McCard struck out the side in the 1st and retired the first seven hitters she faced. Vann did not have as many strikeouts, but mixed locations up to keep the locals off-balance.

The Lady Panthers struck first, a single, manufactured run in the 2nd. Mackenzie Matthews blooped a single for runners at the corners, setting up Caroline Heard to hit a sacrifice fly to left.

Trouble arrived in the 5th.

Madison Stewart and Mattie Gray hit back-to-back singles. The latter was erased on a fielder’s choice, but an error and a single by Emi Childress meant two runs before Tiftarea escaped the jam.

Flick was proud of how McCard persevered, even without her best stuff. “She still competed,” he said. Neither run was earned and McCard still managed to strike out 11.

Both squads had big plays defensively throughout. Matthews caught a fly at third and fired over to Murphy at first for a double play in the 4th. In that same inning Murphy dug out a low throw on a grounder to end the inning.

Westwood caught a break when the Lady Panthers were running in the 6th, robbing Bryan of a hit on a soft liner, but then turning two to pick off a runner.

Tiftarea still had chances to hit after and took advantage to be 1-0 on the 2022 campaign.

Murphy and Matthews delivered two hits each on the day. Bryan drove in three runners.

Flick praised Murphy’s glove and bat. “She knocked the ball all over the field,” he said.

The Lady Panthers will play their second game Wednesday, Aug. 10 against Valdosta High. This will be their first ever meeting against these Lady ‘Cats.