Makinley Duke delivers as Lee wins sixth straight

LEESBURG — Thomas County Central had made its choice.

With the winning run at first base and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Yellow Jackets intentionally walked Lee County catcher Porter Butler. Tina Benton followed with another walk, loading the bases and bringing Makinley Duke to the plate.

Duke made them pay.

The Lee County second baseman drove a 2-1 pitch deep to right field for a two-run double, scoring Jaylyn Purvis and Butler and giving the Lady Trojans a dramatic 5-4 walk-off victory Tuesday at Lee County High School.

The win was Lee County’s sixth straight and gave the Lady Trojans a victory in their Region 1-5A opener.

It also came after they entered their final at-bat trailing 4-3.

Purvis started the rally with a one-out single. Izzy Evans followed with a sacrifice bunt, moving Purvis into scoring position but leaving Lee County down to its final out.

Thomas County Central elected not to pitch to Butler, putting her aboard intentionally.

Then Benton drew a walk to fill the bases.

That brought up Duke.

She worked the count to 2-1 before delivering the biggest swing of the afternoon, sending the ball to right field as Purvis raced home with the tying run and Butler followed with the winner.

It was Duke’s only hit of the game, but it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Benton helped make the comeback possible by keeping Lee County within striking distance from the circle.

The right-hander pitched all seven innings, striking out 10 while allowing five hits and four runs. She walked four.

Lee County took the first lead in the second inning when Reese Watkins delivered a sacrifice fly that brought home two runs.

Thomas County Central answered in the third, scoring on a Lee County error before Brinson homered to center field to tie the game.

The Lady Trojans regained the lead before the Yellow Jackets moved in front 4-3 on Anderson’s RBI single in the fifth.

That advantage held until Lee County’s final three outs.

The Lady Trojans managed only four hits, with Duke, Purvis, Evans and Brylyn Parsons collecting one apiece, but they found other ways to reach base. Lee County drew six walks, including two each by Butler and Mac Davis.

And when the Lady Trojans finally got the opportunity they needed in the seventh, Duke finished it.

Lee County will take its six-game winning streak to Thomasville on Thursday for a region doubleheader against Thomas County Central.