The Lady Hounds go straight into the teeth of region play this week, with the past week beginning a pair of matchups with teams within the region against Locust Grove and Eagles Landing.
Jones County set the table for that span by building up a steady hill of momentum, splitting a pair of games against two teams that advanced to the second round of the state playoffs last year – Houston County in AAAAAA and Dodge County in AA. Jones County lost 6-5 to Houston County on Tuesday before Thursday’s 8-4 win over Dodge County in their home opener on Thursday.
“We put it in play and scored some runs. We did some good things and had two fairly close games,” Lady Greyhounds head coach Tripp Burt said. “That’s what you want to see early in the season and get in those situations. It’ll help you get ready for later in the year.”
The Lady Hounds leaned on Ciara Stephens in the pitching circle in both wins, and she avoided letting the opposition receive free baserunners as she walked a combined one batter in both outings.
In Thursday’s win against Dodge County, JCHS built on an early 2-0 lead with an even bigger second inning, pushing five runners across to take heavy control in the way of a 7-1 lead, sending ten batters to the plate in the frame.
Bailey Jackson, Stella Lacy and Tranasia Parker each reached base to start the inning, and a single by Shayla Pennington and Aniya Canty helped extend the advantage even more, giving Stephens plenty of cushion from the pitcher’s circle.
Canty was one of five Lady Hounds with a hit as she drove in a pair of runs. Also collecting a hit were Kimber Kent, Pennington, Lacy and Parker.
Pennington and Kent also helped the Lady Hounds lead early with Jones County’s pair of first-inning runs. With the infield muddier than usual.
The start was delayed due to weather and with rain falling through the first few innings of the game, the Lady Hounds used their speed to catch the Indians off-guard. Kent reached on a bunt and stole second with Pennington drawing a walk before also stealing second base. Both would go on to score for an early 2-0 lead.
“It’s good to play a game early in the season in wet conditions and get used to it now instead of late in the year,” Burt said.
Thursday’s win followed Tuesday’s 6-5 loss at Houston County in which a four-run second inning by the Bears ended up being the difference. Down 4-1, Jones County scored twice in the third and once in the fourth and fifth, coming up a run shy of tying it.
Stephens took the loss, giving up six runs, five earned in six innings, walking one batter. The loss came in spite of two hits from Stephens and Aniya Canty, with Canty driving in three runs, two on separate homers with Stephens also homering.
Leah Betts puts the bat on the ball against Dodge County.
