For the Lady Greyhounds to be in the running for a region title, one initial step is to take care of business in games they should win on paper.
Mission accomplished. Jones County claimed three run-rule victories in region play last week, beating McDonough twice and Hampton once by combined scores of 56-2. JCHS swept McDonough 17-1 and 20-1 in a Wednesday doubleheader before a 19-0 win over Hampton on Thursday.
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“Playing teams like this, you can see where you need to make adjustments,” Lady Greyhounds head coach Tripp Burt said. “You work on your fundamentals and adjust on what you can.”
The schedule will take on a degree of difficulty soon for JCHS, which hosted Locust Grove Tuesday and will also take on Union Grove Aug. 19 at home in region play, two opponents that are postseason regulars.
“It’ll kind of ramp up for us starting next week,” Burt said.
Ensley Barnes came up big for the Lady Hounds last week, giving up a combined two hits in starts during Wednesday’s second doubleheader against McDonough and Thursday’s win at Hampton. She also collected one of five hits at the plate against Hampton along with Marissa Moore, Sarah Davis, Kadi Sargent, and Rylee Johnson. Genna and Maki each drove in two runs in a contest in which JCHS took control early, pushing seven runs across in the first inning.
The Lady Hounds enjoyed similar early success in the doubleheader sweep over McDonough, scoring seven runs in the first inning, while in the second game, JCHS put up a 15-run first inning.
Cate Downey and Kaleigh Scarborough combined to one-hit McDonough in the first game, enjoying run support led by Myah Briscoe’s four hits and three triples and Moore’s two hits.
“We want to see everybody work a little bit,” Burt said of being able to get the top three pitchers work last week. “It’s different pitching against someone else than your own team.”
Barnes drove in three runs in the second win against McDonough with two RBIs a piece from Johnson, Sargent, and Sydney Hawkins.
