Ola wins over Panthers

Published 8:00 am Saturday, March 5, 2022

CHULA – Ola High School won a 6-1 baseball contest from Tiftarea Academy Friday night.

The Panthers accepted the challenge of the much bigger opponent – Ola is in GHSA’s Class 5A – with a three-run 4th being most of the damage in the contest.

In that frame, Walker Bruce, James McGee and Will Smith scored the runs on hits by McGee, Smith and Hunter Robinson. But Tiftarea kept the damage minimal, considering the first four hitters reached without courtesy of an out.

An alert play was responsible for the second of those outs. After Ola flew out to centerfielder Matthew Malone, a runner tagged and went to third. Head coach Dusty Griffis appealed the play and umpires ruled the runner left the bag too early. Hayden Murphy struck out the third man to get out of the inning.

The visiting Mustangs also did their share of minimizing. Caleb Fordham and Talon Holland kept Tiftarea hitless until the 6th.

Murphy solved that problem with a long home run to right. Logan Moore singled to right for their other hit, also in the 6th.

Other Ola runs were scored in the 2nd, 3rd and 6th. McGee made it a 1-0 game in the 2nd by doubling in Bruce.

An inning later, Brayden Fordham got an RBI on a single after Jack Morris’ bloop hit and a wild pitch. The final run was McGee, driven in by Robinson.

The Panthers earned four walks. Wesley Malone was hit by pitches twice, and for the third time in two games.

Not counting Griffis’ appeal, Tiftarea’s defense turned two double plays. Second baseman Lane Cole flipped to Murphy (playing shortstop), who threw to Moore in the 5th. In the 6th, third baseman Robert Garner fielded a grounded and tagged his own bag before throwing over to Moore for the other.

Murphy pitched four innings, with Jam Presley taking care of the final three.