REGION 1-AAAA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT: Worth County wins two | PHOTOS

ALBANY — The pitch was just where Worth County’s Taylor Layfield wanted it.

And the sophomore did not disappoint.

With a pair of runners on base after the Lady Rams were given new life after a Cook infield error, Layfield made the Lady Hornets pay when she ripped the delivery over the center field fence.

Her three-run blast propelled Worth County into the Region 1-AAAA softball tournament semifinals after they upended Cook 8-2 Tuesday night at the Gordon Complex.

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“She threw me a pitch outside and I was looking for it,” Layfield said. “I had hit a home run off of her at our place earlier this year.”

The Lady Rams also added some insurance when Brinsley Graddy slapped a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth. The they provided the clincher with a run in the sixth.

The offense helped starting pitcher Caroline Newton earn a hard-fought victory to help Worth County remain in the winner’s bracket. The Lady Rams will play unbeaten and top-seeded Thomas County Central, who sent Bainbridge into the loser’s bracket with an 11-6 victory in the late game.

A victory over Thomas County Central tonight at 7:30 p.m. would send the Lady Rams into the championship round on Thursday. A victory today would assure Worth County would finish no worse than second in the region and host a first-round state playoffs series next Wednesday.

“We’re playing pretty well right now,” Worth County coach Kaleb Hathcock said. “There’s a lot at stake.”

Newton went 2-for-4, while Layfield also went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs to lead the offensive attack. Lindsey Toneygay finished 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

Today’s other games will feature a pair of elimination games at 5:30 p.m. Cook will meet Cairo, while Crisp County will play Bainbridge.

Earlier, Worth County sent Westover into the loser’s bracket following a 13-1 victory behind Layfield, who cruised until the fourth inning when she allowed her only hit. B. Harp scored on the blooper to left field, putting the only blemish on an otherwise perfect afternoon.

The Lady Rams scored seven runs in the bottom of the first on just three hits and never looked back.

Laylon Ivey led the offense, going 2 for 3 with three RBIs. Abby Adkins went 1 for 2 with an RBI, while Graddy added an RBI triple in the game.

In other games, Thomas County Central sent Monroe into the loser’s bracket in a 15-0 rout, Bainbridge beat Cairo 2-1 and Cook needed nine innings to beat Crisp County 8-5.

Then in the nightcap, Cairo eliminated Monroe in a 19-5 drubbing and Crisp County eliminated Westover 14-1.