Worth County slips past Crisp County

SYLVESTER — It might have been just an early season Region 1-AAAA baseball game Monday night at Pope Park between Worth County and Crisp County.

But it was more than just a rivalry, even though the season is barely four weeks old.

Worth County scored on an infield error to plate the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh and topped Crisp County 9-8, keeping the Cougars winless in region play while the Rams stayed in the hunt.

“That’s why it was so intense,” Worth County coach Will Smith said. “Neither one of us could afford to lose this one to have any shot at winning the region at all.”

Cody Reddell scored the game-winning run after Reece Bozeman had put the ball in play with runners on second and third in the final inning. Crisp had rallied to tie in its half of the seventh after Worth’s Hunter Goodwin belted a solo homer in the sixth to break a 7-all tie.

But it was Worth’s resiliency that helped the Rams improve to 6-4 overall, 3-2 in region play.

“I’m proud of my guys, for finding a way to get it done,” Smith said. “We gave them several opportunities to get back in the game, which they did. But fortunately for us, we found a way to get it done with timely hits and putting the ball in play.”

Reddell earned the victory in relief of starter Jake Jones who after digging himself in an early 2-0 deficit, pitched masterful until running into trouble in the fourth when the Cougars grabbed a 5-3 lead.

But the Rams’ offense quickly answered in their half of the fourth, scoring four runs to take the lead. The biggest blow was an RBI double from Shelby Cox and an RBI single from Tripp Goff.

However, Crisp refused to go away, cutting the two-run deficit to 7-6 with a run in the fifth, then another to tie in the seventh.

“We caught a few breaks here and there and fortunately was able to pull it out,” Smith said.