GREYHOUND SOFTBALL
With the first half of the region schedule closing in, the Lady Greyhounds are again closing in as one of the region’s top teams. As this week began, Jones County was third in the region standings with a 3-1 region record, behind Ola and Union Grove.
The Lady Hounds’ first region loss came 8-0 last Tuesday to Ola, but the Lady Greyhounds bounced back with vigor on Thursday at Dutchtown, winning in a 12-0 rout as Cate Downey pitched a one-hitter and struck out eight opposing batters.
The Lady Greyhounds didn’t just send a message from the pitcher’s circle; they did so from the plate, too. By the time the top of the first was over, the Greyhounds had things well in hand thanks to a 10-run first inning. JCHS would add single runs in the third and fifth innings, as well.
“In softball, you have to have a short memory,” Lady Greyhounds head coach Tripp Burt said. “You have to put things behind you and bounce back and we did a good job of that, swinging the bats and playing good defense. When you strike out eight people, that helps.”
Seven different Lady Greyhounds had at least one hit, with Tranasia Parker, Leah Betts and Ella Jenkins each having two. Parker and Jenkins also drove in a pair of runs with Parker, Ensley Barnes and Betts having a double. Parker added a triple as well.
Against Ola in a rematch of last year’s region tournament championship game, the leadoff runner reaching base in the first two innings resulted in four runs for the visitors, who would hold Jones County to a pair of Kimber Kent hits.
“Ola’s a good team. We had some miscues and things that went their way, and the tide turned a little bit,” Burt said. “They’ll be good every year. They can always hit, and the next time we see them, we’ll just have to be ready.”
The Lady Greyhounds are scheduled to host Warner Robins Thursday and play next Wednesday at Union Grove.
