BAINBRIDGE – With an intensity not seen from the dugout in a long time, Colquitt County High softball began the 2019 season winning 6-1 at Bainbridge High. This was against Bainbridge’s Division I prospect Lexie Delbrey, who struck out 15 batters in 6 1/3 innings and hit a home run Thursday.

“You usually don’t win when that happens,” said Packers head coach Chance Pitts, recalling how last season, when Delbrey pitched against Colquitt, scouts from Mississippi State, Florida and Tennessee were in the park. “I just told them to go out and compete with her. We practiced hard all week, implemented velocity rounds, did more bunting. Good things happen when you put the ball in play. There were four or five instances of us putting the ball in play with two strikes.”

Colquitt had three hits at the plate, but the Bearcats had four errors. The game was tied 1-1 in the fourth inning, and Bainbridge’s run was Delbrey’s home run off freshman Emily Allegood.

Pitts said that long ball did not faze Allegood, making her first varsity start. She tallied nine strikeouts.

“She located well, changed speeds,” said Pitts. “It was trial by fire and she responded. She showed she belonged in the circle and the plate.”

Allegood had one of the Packer hits, and Pitts said she was close to two, one line drive down the line surprisingly ruled foul.

Catcher Sarah Harrell added a hit and RBI, and sophomore Katlynn Powers drove in two runs.

Defensively, Pitts said Harrell threw out a baserunner and third baseman Abby Plymel backhanded a grounder off Delbrey’s bat for a big double play turned by Abeny Thomas.