Softball RoundUp: All area teams lose Tuesday

Six Southwest Georgia softball teams left the field Tuesday with losses.

Two of them will meet Thursday looking for a much-needed response.

Deerfield-Windsor’s difficult stretch continued with a 16-6 loss to Tiftarea Academy, while Terrell Academy fell 6-2 to region-leading Westfield. The Lady Knights and Lady Eagles will face each other Thursday in Albany.

Lee County, meanwhile, had its 17-game winning streak snapped by Houston County—but the Lady Trojans won’t have to wait long for another opportunity against their region rival.

Tiftarea Academy 16, Deerfield-Windsor 6

ALBANY — Deerfield-Windsor had barely settled into Tuesday afternoon’s game when it found itself chasing five runs.

The Lady Knights spent the rest of a sweltering afternoon trying to catch up.

They never did.

Tiftarea Academy scored five times in the first inning and blew the game open with eight runs in the fourth, handing Deerfield-Windsor its fourth consecutive loss.

The Lady Knights fell to 3-9 overall and 0-2 in region play.

Coley Croft delivered the first big swing for Tiftarea, driving a two-run double into the outfield. Chloe Brand brought home another run on a groundout before Bella Bostick’s two-run single made it 5-0.

Deerfield-Windsor tried to battle back by staying patient at the plate. The Lady Knights drew 11 walks, including three apiece by Claire Hockman and Aubrey Ross.

But Tiftarea kept stretching the lead.

The Lady Panthers added two runs in the second and another in the third before putting the game away in the fourth. Tiftarea scored eight runs on four hits, two walks and a Deerfield-Windsor error in the inning.

Croft delivered the biggest blow with a three-run double. She finished 3-for-3 with five RBIs, while Calla Joyner also collected three hits.

Emily Phillips led Deerfield-Windsor with two hits in four at-bats. Reynolds Bryson drove in two runs from the No. 7 spot in the lineup.

Mary Ruth Courtney took the loss after allowing seven runs—six earned—on six hits in 2⅔ innings.

The Lady Knights will try to stop their slide Thursday when Terrell Academy visits Albany.

Houston County 6, Lee County 1

WARNER ROBINS — For 17 consecutive games, Lee County found a way to win.

Houston County finally brought the streak to an end.

The Lady Bears broke open a close game with four runs in the fifth inning and defeated Lee County 6-1, handing the Lady Trojans their first loss since opening day.

Lee County is now 17-2.

The Lady Trojans took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Brylyn Parsons drove a solo home run over the right-field fence. That was nearly all the offense Lee County could produce against the Bears.

The game turned in the bottom of the fifth.

DeFore singled down the left-field line to drive in two runs, and Buffone followed with a two-run double to give Houston County a 4-1 lead.

Anna Lambert handled the rest. She pitched all seven innings, holding Lee County to three hits while striking out six and issuing no walks.

Parsons, Kennady Patrick and Porter Butler collected the Lady Trojans’ hits.

Tina Benton worked six innings for Lee County, allowing six runs—four earned—on nine hits. She struck out four and walked five.

One loss ended the Lady Trojans’ winning streak. It did not settle the region race.

Lee County will get two more chances against Houston County when the Lady Bears travel to Leesburg for a doubleheader Thursday. The first game begins at 4:30 p.m.

Westfield 6, Terrell Academy 2

PERRY — Westfield may have stumbled out of the gate this season, but the nine-time state champions appear to have found their footing.

The Lady Hornets won for the fifth time in six games Tuesday, beating Terrell Academy 6-2 to retain first place in the region standings.

Terrell Academy fell to 8-5 overall and 2-1 in region play but remains second behind Westfield.

The Lady Hornets scored first on Mozingo’s RBI single in the second inning. Terrell Academy responded in the third when Michaela Zingarelli singled to center to bring home the tying run.

The tie didn’t last long.

Happel’s sacrifice liner put Westfield back in front in the bottom of the third, and Crosby followed with an RBI single for a 3-1 advantage.

Terrell Academy collected seven hits against Westfield pitcher Tinsley but couldn’t put together the big inning it needed. Tinsley went the distance, allowing two runs while striking out three and walking one.

Alyssa Godwin provided the Lady Eagles’ most consistent offense, finishing 3-for-3. Lily Addison and Zingarelli each drove in a run.

Zingarelli pitched all six innings for Terrell Academy and allowed six runs on 10 hits. Only two of those runs were earned, as defensive mistakes made the Lady Eagles’ task considerably more difficult.

Westfield played error-free defense and received two hits apiece from Crosby, Nipper and Mozingo.

Now Terrell Academy turns its attention to Deerfield-Windsor on Thursday.

Other scores:

Bainbridge 15, Dougherty 0

Cairo 16, Monroe 0

Columbus 15, Westover 1