Seniors propel Lady Panthers to victory

Published 1:30 pm Wednesday, September 28, 2022

CHULA — It took some time for Tiftarea Academy’s offense to click Sept. 27, but once they got going they were unstoppable against Brookwood School. On Senior Night, the Lady Panthers won 13-4 on the run-rule.

Six players were honored before Tuesday’s game: Caroline Heard, Mackenzie Matthews, Jolee Paulk, Ali Strenth, Haylee Grace Cole and Elli Bryan. All started.

“The seniors had a big night,” said head coach Rob Flick. They’re a group that is special to him. “Most of them have been here (on the roster) for five years, a couple of them two, a couple of them three. They’ve meant a lot to this program.”

Flick said they are a fun group and have worked extremely hard.

The District 3-AAA championship may not be decided until the last day and, with Hurricane Ian threatening South Georgia, that last day is a little later than originally planned. Tiftarea’s game at Southland Academy, scheduled for Sept. 29, has been pushed back to Oct. 11.

The Lady Panthers were scheduled to host Adel’s Community Christian Oct. 3 and play a non-region game at Southwest Georgia Academy Oct. 4.

Appropriately, it was the seniors who got the momentum going for the Lady Panthers.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the 2nd, Matthew worked a walk, followed by a bloop hit over second by Heard. Paulk was behind 1-2 after three pitches, but kept working the count, finally walking on eight pitches. The bases were now full.

“It was great,” said Flick of Paulk’s at-bat in the 2nd inning. Paulk has missed time with injuries and has only been in the batter’s box a handful of times. She has made the most of those opportunities as well as in the outfield. “She has the best arm on the team,” he said.

Bryan came up and slashed a double to the left field corner, bringing in two runs and giving Tiftarea the lead for good. Isabel Fernandez re-loaded the bases on a free pass, but they did not stay that way long. Paulk came in on a wild pitch and Pyper McCard grounded out, scoring Bryan. It was now 4-1.

In the 3rd, Matthews and Heard worked a little two-out magic, a single to right by the former and an RBI double by Heard.

The game now seemed well on its way to a blowout, but Brookwood was not going to make it easy.

Morgan Boggs started the rally with a double off a fielder’s glove. Kendall Moore also produced a double, this one to deep center. With one un, Rylee Hollifield singled. Two were on with no outs for Audrey Harrison, who drove in Moore with a single.

Hannah Grace Murphy rallied for two outs, but the Lady Warriors had one more in them for the frame, an infield single by Carriyona Williams. Hollifield came home for their third run when Tiftarea could not get Williams at first, but they got an out anyway when Cole fired down to Fernandez at third to picked off Harrison trying to get an extra base.

The score narrowed to 5-4, but locals’ nerves were kept to a minimum as the Lady Panthers quickly put the game out of reach.

A walk and error put Bryan and Fernandez aboard, Bryan taking third. Bryan then snuck in ahead of a throw to score and, while Brookwood was not paying attention, Fernandez moved up another base on the play.

Elaine Mercer hit a double to easily score Fernandez, then came around herself on another wild pitch. Murphy made first on an error. With wild pitches gaining her two bases, Matthews grounded out for an RBI and a lead that was now 9-4.

Murphy retired Brookwood in order in the 5th, with a big assist from Strenth, who made a lunging, shoestring catch at shortstop.

Tiftarea now had the chance to walk off the win — and did, even after a double play.

The inning started promisingly, an error allowing Paulk to reach and Bryan reaching base on a single. But out of nowhere, Brookwood caught a shallow fly to the outfield and doubled up a runner.

McCard kept the inning going on a walk. Murphy singled home Paulk to make it 10-4. Ali Strenth walked, filling the bags for Cole.

Cole hit a ball up the middle that was fumbled, emptying the bases of McCard, Katelyn Brown (running for Murphy) and Strenth and walking off the victory.

Brookwood was the first on the scoreboard.

Lead-off hitter Libby Jacobson made third base on an error, scoring on Kendall Boggs’ grounder to third. After that, McCard settled in, striking out four batters in the first two innings.

Bryan and Heard had two hits each for Tiftarea, Bryan adding a pair of RBIs.

Flick had a ton of praise for a fast improving Brookwood squad. “They’ve gotten so much better,” he said. He predicts Brookwood will be a force within a couple of years.