Lady Warhawks hold on against Tift

Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, August 24, 2022

TIFTON — Veterans made a huge defensive play in the top of the 7th and survived a late Tift County surge to win the Region 1-6A softball opener Tuesday, 10-8.

Down four runs heading into the bottom of the 6th, the Tift’s Lady Devils scored three times. Veterans added a 7th inning tally on a long solo blast by Trinity Glover. Tift threatened again in the 7th with two on and none out, but pitcher Madison Bunnell made a running catching a popped up bunt, then threw to first to double up a runner. The Lady Warhawks were then able to escape by the skin of their teeth.

Tift scored in bunches Tuesday while Veterans spread their runs out.

The Lady Devils began the first frame on fire, with their first four runners reaching. It was back-to-back walks for Ella Bruce and Loralee Bennett. Bailee Williams drove in both with a perfectly-placed double that landed a foot fair on the left field line. Gracee Wood traded places with Williams on the basepaths are ripping a double down the third base line.

Veterans squared the score in the 3rd, then went one ahead in the 4th when Glover drove in Kaylen Williams with a single. A half-inning later, Tift was in front again.

Delanie Jewell tripled to deep centerfield on a ball that nearly left the parkL Lily Robinson battled back from an 0-2 count to earn a one-out walk. With runners at first and third, Robinson goaded a throw to second on a steal attempt and, when it went wild, Jewell sprinted to scored.

Angie Martinez laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Robinson to third, which came in handy on a wild pitch, allowing Robinson to slide home safely and bring the score to 5-4.

The lead unfortunately did not hold. Veterans plated Rayven Hodridge in the 5th before posting four more runs in the 6th, with four consecutive Lady Warhawks getting an RBI.

Tift came most of the way back that same inning, again with walks. Breanna Hernandez and Robinson reached base that way, with Abby Henderson coming in to run for Hernandez. Martinez did her job once more with a sac bunt, then a run scored in an unusual way: a strikeout.

Bruce fanned on a pitch that squirted away. Henderson coasted in and Bruce was safe at first. At third, Robinson forced another error, allowing her to pick up her second run of the way. Williams earned her third RBI with a single, Bruce scoring to cut Veterans’ lead to 9-8.

Williams was the only Lady Devil with two hits, going along with her three runs batted in. Robinson pitched a complete game, striking out a pair.

Lady Devils outfielders continued their outstanding defensive work. Jewell ended the top of the 2nd with a shoestring catch in center that even she seemed surprised landed in the glove. Macy Hand threw out a runner attempting to score on a single with a throw to Martinez that was on the money in the 5th. The infielders had their moment when Loralee Bennett started an around-the-horn double play in the 1st.

Tift will be at Houston County Thursday.