TUESDAY
Another storm blew through Tuesday. It was named: Troup County.
The Tigers rained down upon Perry to the tune of 11-0 in five innings. The loss eliminated Perry from the GHSA Class AAAA state tournament. The Panthers, obviously nothing to hang their heads over as they came one game within capturing the region title, finished 22-9 (something else to be proud about). The Tigers moved on at 29-4.
Troup hit Perry with seven runs in the first. Three walks, two being hit by pitches didn’t help. Neither did a three-run homerun by Colton Webb. (He accounted for four RBIs all together.) The Panthers went in order in the bottom half of the inning – they were home in that one even though at Troup. They didn’t put together three of their four total singles – Carson Bryant, Tristen Freis and Garrett Davis – but each of those was followed by an out leaving the bases loaded.
The Tigers made it 8-0 with a run in the third. Perry coaxed a walk but nothing more in its half.
Another run made it 9-0. Another inning with one runner – an error – but nothing more, kept it that way.
Finally, aided by back-to-back-to-back walks and a single, Troup made it 11-0. (They did come in averaging 10 runs a game while giving up less than two.)
The Panthers got a single out of Tanner Knowles with one out in the fifth but a double play ended the game.
MONDAY
Delayed by rain, stalled by rain, but Perry and Troup County were finally able to get in one game of their best two-of-three in the GHSA Class AAAA state tournament.
It went to the Tigers, 9-4.
The Panthers did get out to a 4-0 lead before Troup rallied back. It scored one in the bottom of the third, four in the fourth, three in the fifth and one in the sixth, its last inning.
Perry, after at least an hour late getting started, scored first in the first. Tanner Knowles singled. Tyler Newhouse sacrificed him over. Dylan Butler singled him home. Troup had a couple of two-out singles in its half but could not crack the scoreboard.
The Panthers went in order in the second. The Tigers got a leadoff double from Tre Mosely but it was wiped out by a double play. Colton Webb struck out as rain brought another delay – it a long run.
Perry put three runs on the board when the game restarted. Knowles was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Newhouse and Butler struck out but Carson Bryant was able to reach on an error and Lane Rucker was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Tristan Freis cleared them of all but him with a triple.
Troup got one back in the bottom half of the inning without the benefit of a hit – an error and a couple of passed balls.
The Panthers went in order in the fourth and fifth. The Tigers were busy taking over the lead at that point. Perry put two on to start the sixth but a pop fly and two strikeouts erased them.
Finally, it could only manage a one-out single in the seventh. The next two batters went in order to preserve the win.
The two will resume today with Troup one win away from advancing and the Panthers with their backs against the wall and needed to win twice.
