Newspaper Page Text
The Jackson Herald
www.mamstreetnewssports.com
FOOTBALL, 4B
PANTHERS RALLY
FOR REGION WIN
October 11, 2017
Phone: (706) 367-5233
Fax:(706)387-5417
sports@mainstreetnews. com
Section B
Softball
Region title caps unbeaten run through 8-AAA for Panthers
By Ben Munro
Jackson County won its third region softball title in
six years and added a historical twist in gamering this
latest trophy.
With an 11-1 rout of Franklin County in the Region
8-AAA finals on Thursday, the Panthers completed
a perfect season in region play.
Jackson County (22-7) went
10-0 in regular-season compe
tition and then won all three
of its region tournament games,
giving it a 13-0 mark against
8-AAA opponents.
“It's never been done.” coach
Chad Brannon said. “I’m very
proud of them. That's really
amazing ... We knew we had
something special, but we didn’t anticipate this to be
honest.”
This year's region title for Jackson County follows
Region 8-AAA championships in 2012 and 2014.
“It’s awesome,” catcher Joni Lott said. “It’s such an
•What: Lumpkin
Co. at Jackson Co.
•When:
Wednesday,
doubleheader,
4 p.m., Game 3
Thursday at 5 p.m.
if needed
awesome experience, just to be out here playing with
people you've grown up with and to win big titles like
this, it feels good.”
Pitcher Brooke Kibbe, who threw six innings for
the victory against Franklin County, said winning a
region title as a senior was satisfying.
“The team had my back, and it was just awesome,”
said Kibbe, who was a freshman when the Panthers
won a region title in 2014. “I'm so happy.”
The Panthers, who once again broke a game open
late, scored nine of their 11 runs in the final two
innings. The game ended in the sixth inning via run
rule, and the team soon after celebrated with the
8-AAA trophy in the middle of the infield. Jackson
County players then conspired to sneak up and douse
Brannon with the water cooler.
“It hurt,” Brannon said with a laugh. “I'm mad at
(assistant coach Joseph) Laird for not saying any
thing.”
The coach said winning the region title is a testa-
continued on Page 3B
CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENT
The Jackson County softball team celebrates its region
championship victory over Franklin County on Thursday.
It’s the program’s third title in six years. See more photos on
Page 6B. Photo by Ben Munro
A SPECIAL SEASON
After winning just three games last year, the Commerce Tiger softball team captured the
Region 8-A title on Saturday. It was the first region title in the history of the program. See
more photos on Page 10B. Photo by Kyle Funderburk
Softball
Long awaited
Commerce softball turnaround continues with first-ever region title
By Kyle Funderburk
Before this past Saturday, the Commerce fast pitch
softball team had never captured a Region Champi
onship. Following a three-win season in 2016, expec
tations weren’t too high
this season.
But the Tigers (21-5)
rallied in the final day
of the Region 8-A Tour
nament needing to beat
Prince Avenue twice.
They got the job done with victories with the scores
of 6-5 and 13-6. Commerce outscored the Wolverines
18-6 in the final eight innings of the evening.
But down 5-1 in the first game against Prince Ave
nue, it appeared as though the championship drought
would continue for at least one more year.
Then came a pair of runs in the sixth inning, and
another early in the seventh. And all of the sudden,
freshman Emma Davis came to the plate as a pinch
runner with two outs and a tying run on second base.
She didn't need many pitches to find the one for her.
When she found it, she launched it over the fence in
center field. Davis gave Commerce a 6-5 lead.
“That was indescribable, skills can only go so far,
you have to have heart for that. That's one thing about
these girls, they get down and they get back up. we
love each other, it's like a family,” said head coach
C.J. Wilkes. “I don't think they [Prince Avenue] were
expecting us to come back the way that we did. once
continued on Page 4B
•What: Trion/Jenkins Co.
at Commerce,
•When: Oct. 18,
doubleheader, time TBA;
Game 3 Oct. 19, if needed
Volleyball
Panthers capture first
area title in 21 years
By Ben Munro
Jackson County was the best
team in area all season and left
no doubt when it came time to
prove it in the 8-AAA tourna
ment.
•What: Murray Co. With a
at Jackson Co. straight-set
•When: sweep of
Wednesday, 5:30 East J ac kson
p m on Saturday,
the Panthers
won their
first area volleyball title in 21
years. Senior Taylor Roland
explained the emotion of the
moment.
“It was like a feeling of relief,”
Roland said. “We've worked so
hard this season — morning
practices and night practices. All
this working out, it just feels
great to win.”
The Panthers, who will host
North Murray in the first round
of the state tournament, are now
31-11 on the year.
“It's a special group of girls,”
said Jackson County head coach
Ron Fowler. “They've worked
really hard, and they truly
deserve all the credit. This is just
awesome.”
Jackson County warmed up
for the area championship with
a semifinals victory over Hart
County before meeting rival East
Jackson in the finals.
The Panthers trailed 15-12 in
the first set before closing on a
13-3 run to win 25-18. Senior
Jessica Streuer secured
continued on Page 2B
THE THRILL OF VICTORY
Jackson County’s Jessica Streuer celebrates a point during
the Panthers’ area championship win over East Jackson on
Saturday. See more photos on Page 9B Photo by Ben Munro
SHOUT IT
OUT LOUD
Jefferson’s
Cameron
Watson and
the rest of
the Dragon
softball
team cele
brate a 9-8
region title
victory over
Madison
County on
Thursday.
Jefferson
has won two
consecu
tive Region
8-AAAA
titles. See
more pho
tos on Page
7B. Photo by
Zach Mitcham
Softball
Region champs:
Dragons edge Raiders
in softball ‘track meet’
By Zach Mitcham
and Ben Munro
This was not a region track
meet, but it kind of felt like one.
Jefferson captured its second
straight Region 8-AAAA soft-
ball championship Thursday
afternoon in a high-scoring, 9-8,
come-from-behind victory over
visiting Madison County, rallying
for five runs in the bottom of the
fifth to erase a 7-3 deficit.
The slugfest included base run
ners galore and plenty of drama
•What: White Co. at Jefferson,
•When: Wednesday, doubleheader, 5
p.m.; Game 3 Thursday if needed
on a hot afternoon. Dragon coach
Kacie Bostwick cooled off with a
bucket of ice water dumped over
her head by her players after the
win.
“That’s really cold, but I
wouldn’t have it any other way,”
she said.
continued on Page 8B