MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County girls softball team takes a 3-4 record into the Region 1-AAAAA tournament that opens today in Cordele, but will play one of the teams it has defeated in its opener.
The Lady Packers, the No. 5 seed, will meet No. 4 seed Northside-Warner Robins in one of four games that will open the double-elimination tournament at 4 p.m. today at the Crisp County Youth Ball Complex off I-75 Exit 102.
Top-seeded Lowndes, which won all seven of its region games. will face No. 8 Coffee, No. 2 Warner Robins will meet No.7 Valdosta and No. 3 Houston County will play No. 6 Tift County.
Four other games — two in the winners bracket and two in the losers bracket — also will be played today.
The Colquitt County-Northside winner will meet the Lowndes-Coffee winner and the winners of the other two first-round games will meet at 5:45 p.m.
Two losers bracket games also will be played at 5:45 p.m.
The tournament will continue on Wednesday, with the championship game scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday.
Colquitt County will try to duplicate its Sept. 18 victory over Northside when the two teams meet today. The Lady Packers defeated the Lady Eagles 4-3 in nine innings in a curious game in which Colquitt County won its first game ever at Packer Park.
That game featured a triple play and the ejection of the Northside coach and the Lady Packers scored the winning run on successive wild pitches in the bottom of the ninth.
Lady Packers coach Carman Phillips likes her team’s chances of making it two in a row over Northside, which takes a 14-13-1 overall record and a 4-3 region record into the tournament.
“We have seen their strengths and weaknesses and I have researched some of their games against other teams to to prepare for this first win,” Phillips said.
“It’s very important to get a win to start the tournament. Our girls know what they are capable of, but they also know they are going to work hard to pull out a win.
“Our extra-inning game excitement still lingers and the girls want to win again. If we hit the ball like we can and play defense, we’ll be OK.”
The Lady Packers need two victories to be assured of at least a fourth-place finish in the tournament. That finish would send Colquitt County to the state tournament.
“We have a very good team when everyone’s in the zone and we seemed to have that going after practice and just hearing the girls talk about what’s ahead,” Phillips said.
“We, as a team, have discussed the game plan for getting into the south sectionals and we are all ready to make that trip.”
Phillips said the Lady Packers have played better defensively and have been more successful getting their bunts down late in the season.
“Our bats are not as strong as they seemed at first, but we’ve been focusing more lately on seeing the ball and putting it in play,” Phillips said. “We’ve watched too many good pitches go by and swung at the ugly ones.”
The Lady Packers are likely to start Christy Harper at pitcher, Maggie Davidson at catcher, Aubrey Perryman at first base, Bria Wallace at second base, Meagan May at third base, Kaley Clark at shortstop, Jana Harvin in left field, Brooke Hood in center field and Caitlin Carr in right field.
Hannah Hancock also can pitch if needed.
The substitutes are Jordan Taylor, Blanca Fuentes, Kaytlyne Jarvis, Anna Laura Beason and Alle Fuentes.
Phillips said the Lady Packers will try to get some key hits in the tournament.
“We have worked on moving the runners once we get them on base,” she said. “We have left so many base runners stranded and we cannot afford to do that in our region.
“I honestly believe our region is the toughest in the state and I’m hoping our key hits from all the girls break loose this week to show that Colquitt County has caught up with everyone in fast-pitch and we’re ready to play.”
Local Sports
Lady Pack to open with Northside
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Conference champions
The Colquitt County seventh-grade girls basketball team celebrates its South Georgia Athletic Conference championship. The team includes, front, from left, coach Sheila Williams, Za'Nautica Downs, Akia Sutton, Ty'Asia McNeal, Shy Seay; and back, Sydnee Dalton, Shay Stanfill, Kiarra Lovett, Abiyah Spencer, Coach Jon Scroggins, Angel Kinchen, Chyna Calhoun, Michaela Bennefield, Istajhe Johnson, Ashuntee Stewart and Ja'nysia Brown. Not shown, Coach Tamika Seay and Emily Dozier.
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Lady Pack clinches top seed for region tournament
Makeba Ponder’s free throw with 6 seconds remaining gave the Colquitt County girls a 55-48 victory over Lowndes on Tuesday on the William Bryant Court at the Gladys Espy Gymnasium and ensured the Lady Packers would have the top seed in next week’s Region 1-AAAAA tournament at Tift County.
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Rifle team defeats Worth County
The Colquitt County High rifle team remains unbeaten after taking a 1,098-1,082 victory over Worth County on Tuesday in Sylvester.
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Prine shines at Snowflake Invitational
Kenyadah Prine is progressing just fine in her comeback from two frustrating seasons that were marred by injuries. The Lowndes High senior is making the most of her opportunities to return to top form, no matter how big or small the stage.
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Prine shines at Snowflake Invitational
Kenyadah Prine is progressing just fine in her comeback from two frustrating seasons that were marred by injuries. The Lowndes High senior is making the most of her opportunities to return to top form, no matter how big or small the stage.
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Level 3 gymnasts first, Level 4 team second in Thomasville
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Travis Register will take an unbeaten record into next weekend’s state sectional after going 2-0 and winning the 220-pound weight class at Saturday’s Region 1-AAAAA wrestling tournament at Lowndes.
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Lady Packers hold off Tift County
The Colquitt County girls basketball team held off a determined Tift County second-half rally on Saturday on the William Bryant Court at the Espy Gymnasium to get a 59-48 Region 1-AAAAA victory.
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Talking it over
The defending Region 1-AAAAA champion Colquitt County High baseball team held an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday at Ike Aultman Field at Packer Park. The Packers are gearing up for their Feb. 21 season-opener against Lawton Chiles of Tallahassee at Packer Park. Packers assistant coach Jake Mobley talks with sophomore pitcher, and little brother, Gabe Mobley during Saturday’s scrimmage.
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Seventh-grade girls win conference championship
The Colquitt County seventh-grade girls’ basketball team claimed the conference championship Saturday, upsetting previously undefeated Coffee, 20-19.
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