Valdosta downs Diamond Pack 8-1

Published 11:08 pm Tuesday, April 25, 2006

MOULTRIE — Playing without leading hitter and run producer Andrew Wallace, who was ill, the Colquitt County baseball team found its offense struggling on Tuesday.

And playing Region 1-AAAAA leading Valdosta on the road, it hurt.

The Wildcats score three unearned runs in the first inning, two more unearned runs in the fourth and went on to an 8-1 victory.

The victory gives Valdosta a 6-1 record one-game lead in the Region 1-AAAAA standings.

Lowndes is solidly in second place at 5-2, snapping a two-game losing streak by defeating Coffee 6-4 on Tuesday at Noel George Field.

Houston County, shut out 6-0 by Tift County on Tuesday, falls into a tie with the Blue Devils for third place. Each team is now 4-3.

The Packers, now 2-5, will have to bounce back at home on Friday when they play host to Houston County.

Colquitt County had just five hits on Tuesday: two each by Matt Weaver and Tyler Perryman and a single by Cory Bridwell.

They needed much more against the surprising Wildcats, who are making a run at the region championship after going 2-8 and not making the postseason last year.

The Packers gave Valdosta plenty of help. The first two Valdosta batters reached on errors and an both scored. The second scored on a Will Flail home run.

The Wildcats added two more in fourth, needing just one hit.

The three runs in the fifth were earned.

Senior Chance Pitts went 4 1/3 innings and took the loss, despite giving up just four hits.

Andrew McDowell finished up the fifth inning.

Freshman John Michael Harrison pitched a scoreless sixth.

Valdosta managed just six hits, but took advantage of the Packers errors.

Packers coach Jerry Croft said his team would go back to work today.

“If we can beat Houston on Friday, we can get right back in it,” Croft said.