Under the PSR formula now used in all classifications across GHSA to determine playoff seeding, one spot in the standings can be the difference in a higher seed getting either a tough or easier draw in the opening round of the state playoffs.
Despite having home-field advantage, Jones County drew a battle-tested Madison County in last week’s GHSA Class AAAAA state tournament. But with the best-ofthree series going to a pivotal third and decisive game, the Lady Hounds put the ball back in the hands of freshman pitcher Makalyn Williams one day after she pitched in the series-opening 6-5 loss. She was unrattled on Thursday, going the distance again, striking out nine batters in a 5-2 win for the Lady Hounds (21-8) to advance to this week’s second round against Central Carrollton. The series winner will move on to next week’s state Elite 8 in Columbus.
“Coming into the season, we knew we had a special group, and one of their goals is to get to Columbus,” Lady Greyhounds head coach Tripp Burt said. “Getting past the first round and into the second round is a big step in that. It was a tough draw in the first round, but we were able to get through it and get what we needed.”
Jones County is one of two teams from its region to advance past the first round with the other being Perry.
“It feels amazing,” Jones County outfielder Marissa Moore said. “To do this with my friends that I’ve been playing with since I was six, it’s crazy to know I am here.”
Williams’ performance on Thursday began with retiring 12 of the first 14 Madison County batters that she faced. Williams gave up two runs and five hits, one day after yielding six runs to Madison County.
“It was just trying to stay up. My body language was not the best (Wednesday), so that was what I was really focusing on,” Williams said. “I felt a lot more confident than I did yesterday, just because I had all the coaches helping me.”
Early run support helped matters for Williams, and the top of the Lady Hounds’ order provided the initial spark.
Leadoff batter Marissa Moore, who had two hits and two stolen bases on Thursday, singled to begin the game before moving around to score. A similar pattern came two innings later. Moore connected on an infield hit via a bunt and took second on an error ahead of making it 2-0 as Raylee Harris reached before being sacrificed over by Myah Briscoe and singled in by Ensley Barnes.
“Any time she gets on base, good things can happen,” Burt said of Moore. “She creates havoc on the basepaths.”
JCHS padded its lead with two sixth-inning runs from Sarah Davis, who led off with a single, and the other via Emily Thompson as a pinch runner. Hayley Sargent also had an RBI for JCHS.
That was plenty of cushion for Williams in the seventh, as a pair of runs pushed across by Madison County fell well short thanks to the top-of-the-order production.
The Lady Hounds got to Thursday by staying alive the day before. Their season on the line after a 6-5 loss in the opening game, JCHS turned to Kaleigh Scarborough in the pitcher’s circle in the day’s second game. She was up to the task, holding the Red Raiders to two runs and five hits in seven innings. The top of the order rose to the test again, with Moore driving in two runs and having a double and triple with runs also being driven in by Briscoe and Barnes. All four Lady Hounds hits in the game-two win came from the top half of the batting order.
“Any time you drop that first game in a three-game series, you have a long road ahead of you,” Burt said. “Our girls did a good job of coming out and fighting”
