Blue Devils tame Lions

Published 5:30 pm Saturday, February 18, 2023

TIFTON — Greg Williams’ mind was split Saturday morning. His Tift County Blue Devils had just shut out Central (Carrollton), 4-0, and he had variety of players who could be chosen as game MVPs.

There was the 6-inning shutout pitching performance by John Dorman, catcher Cam Smith throwing out two would-be base stealers while picking up an RBI himself and there were the three hits by John Davis. Not to mention all of the other big plays at the plate and on the field to contribute to the win.

“All of them,” said Williams.

Tift was already up the four runs when an error, hit and walk filled the bases for the Lions with no outs in the top of the 6th.

Dorman did not even let Central get its hopes up. He struck out two straight men, then got a ground ball to second to preserve the shutout.

He struck out five in his six innings of work, not allowing a hit until the 3rd. Only one other Central player saw third base all game.

Williams described it simply: “John Dorman does what John Dorman does.”

The Blue Devils got to work early. A double play ended their 1st, but they wasted no time getting back on the bases in the 2nd.

Landon Parrish singled and stole second, moving to third on Smith’s infield base hit. Will Pridgen, Smith’s courtesy runner, promptly stole second as well.

Mac Brooks hit a ground ball that was misplayed, scoring Parrish and Pridgen for the game’s first two runs. A strikeout in the dirt put Brooks on third, making it easy for him to score on Davis’ hit up the middle.

Tift’s other ran came in the 3rd, a rally started by Brady Moretz’s single and move to second on a pickoff attempt misfire.

Parrish singled Moretz to third. Smith joined them on the bases on a fielder’s choice, one that caught Moretz leaning too far. Fortunately, that was only the second out and Brooks doubled in Parrish.

Davis was left stranded at third in the 4th after his one-out single, as was Pridgen in the 5th following a two-out single by Smith and double by Brooks.

Smith’s fine day on offensive was perhaps bested by what he did defensively. He threw out Central’s first baserunner — a courtesy runner — who attempted to swipe second after Dillon Smith reached on an error. In the 4th, Smith threw out Hayden Manson to end the inning.

“I can’t tell you how good of a job [Smith] did behind the plate,” Williams said. “That’s the best game of his high school career.”

Besides Davis’ trio of hits, Smith, Brooks and Parrish had two each. Parrish scored twice.

Tyler VanSumeren pitched a 1-2-3 7th to close out the game for the Blue Devils.

The win polished off Tift’s first week of regular season play, one that saw them win 3-0 over Valdosta and 12-5 against Schley County.

“It has been a good week,” said Williams.

Davis and Dorman combined for a three-hitter against Valdosta, with Davis, Tyler Holmes and Parrish picking up RBIs.

At Schley, the Blue Devils first overcame a 3-0 deficit before polishing off the Wildcats with a seven-run 6th.

Parrish drove in four runs while Luke Ellerbee and Dorman knocked in two apiece. Eight players scored at least one run in the game.

Pridgen worked four middle innings, with Ryan Whitley and Parrish also toeing the rubber.

Tift’s next scheduled game is Thomasville at home Feb. 21. They will play a doubleheader at the Bulldogs Feb. 24.