Softball RoundUp: Lee County falls; Deerfield-Windsor, Dougherty and Westover roll to wins

LEESBURG — One swing broke open a scoreless game and sent Lee County to a rare defeat Monday afternoon.

Perry’s Emma Hapton hit a grand slam during a six-run fourth inning, and the Lady Panthers handed the Lady Trojans a 6-2 loss in Leesburg.

The teams were scoreless through three innings before Perry put together its decisive rally. Natalie Myers singled home the first run, another scored on an error and Hapton drove a pitch over the right-field fence to make it 6-0.

Lee County never recovered, falling to 23-3 after entering the game on a six-game winning streak.

Tina Benton went the distance in the circle for the Lady Trojans and allowed eight hits while striking out six and walking three. Only one of Perry’s six runs was earned.

Lee County finished with five hits, one each from Izzy Evans, Kennady Patrick, Jaydynne Frisbee, Brylyn Parsons and Jaylyn Purvis. Parsons and Purvis drove in the Lady Trojans’ two runs.

Emma Rose Wood earned the win for Perry, holding Lee County to two runs over seven innings. She struck out three and walked one.

DEERFIELD-WINDSOR 22, SW GEORGIA STEM 14

Deerfield-Windsor erased an early seven-run deficit and extended its winning streak to three games with an offensive outburst Monday.

Aubrey Ross collected three hits and drove in five runs as the Lady Knights improved to 6-10 entering Tuesday’s home region game against nine-time defending state champion Westfield.

Southwest Georgia STEM scored seven runs in the second inning to take a 7-2 lead and extended the margin to 9-4 in the third. Deerfield-Windsor answered with eight runs on seven hits in the bottom of the inning, taking a 14-9 lead it would not surrender.

Ross delivered a two-run double during the comeback and added a two-run single in the fifth. She also earned the win in relief, striking out five over three innings.

Claire Hockman joined Ross with three hits and drove in three runs. Mary Ruth Courtney and Laiyah Williams added two hits apiece, with Williams driving in two runs.

The Lady Knights finished with 14 hits, drew six walks and stole 15 bases. Courtney, Anna Beth Brady, Williams and Kambell Mitchell each had multiple steals.

DOUGHERTY 19, CARVER 7

Dougherty erupted for 10 runs in the second inning and rolled past Carver in four innings Monday.

Jazlyn Turner went 3-for-4, while winning pitcher Jalexi Thomas collected two hits and drove in four runs. Turner singled home Dougherty’s first run during a four-run opening inning and added an RBI double in the second.

Thomas delivered two-run and run-scoring hits during the 10-run second. Deriyah Gibbs added a two-run double as the Lady Trojans stretched their lead to 14-0.

Thomas allowed two hits and two earned runs while striking out nine. Dariona Simmons and Gibbs joined Turner and Thomas with multiple hits.

Dougherty also stole 13 bases, with Turner, Simmons, Alona Harris and Gibbs recording at least two apiece.

WESTOVER 19, CALHOUN COUNTY 5

Westover scored seven runs in the first inning and eight in the second on the way to a four-inning victory over Calhoun County.

Morgan Polite and Kenndia Miller collected two hits apiece. Miller drove in three runs, while Polite brought home four.

Miller also earned the victory in the circle, allowing two hits and one earned run while striking out eight without issuing a walk.

Sydney Donaldson tripled home a run in the third inning and drew three of Westover’s seven walks. The Lady Patriots collected 10 hits and stole 14 bases, with Abigaile Teasley, Miller, Gabrielle Brown and Lauren Edwards each stealing multiple bases.