Lady Pack downs Richmond Hill in region series-opener

Published 10:18 pm Tuesday, October 3, 2023

MOULTRIE – The Colquitt County softball team appeared to show a little rust after having been off for a week when it defeated Richmond Hill 7-4 on Tuesday at Packer Park.

The game was the first in a three-game Region 1-7A series that will continue with a doubleheader at Richmond Hill on Thursday.

The Lady Packers are now 15-9 overall and 6-2 in the region standings with two region games remaining against both Richmond Hill and Valdosta.

Lowndes currently leads the region with a 7-1 record with a three-game series with Camden County that started Tuesday and a single game at Richmond Hill remaining.

The Colquitt girls had not played since rallying to defeat Berrien 9-8 on Monday, Sept. 25.

The Lady Packers had a 7-0 lead heading into the sixth inning, but Richmond Hill scored two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings before falling short.

Peyton Arrington was sharp in the circle for the first five innings, giving up no runs and just two hits.

But she labored in the sixth when Richmond Hill’s Amani Stanley reached on a bloop double to start the inning and Aubrey Reagins got aboard on an infield hit.

One out later, Kylen Tucker-Flynn doubled off the fence in left-center driving in both runners and cutting the Lady Packers lead to 7-2.

Arrington settled down and struck out the final two batters and set down the first two batters in the seventh.

But the next four Lady Wildcats reached with two scoring on singles by Lily Welch and Tucker-Flynn.

Arrington then struck out Maggie Jenkins to end the game.

Six of Richmond Hill’s eight hits came in the final two innings.

But Arrington helped raise her record to 7-3 by striking out seven and walking just two batters.

The Lady Packers jumped out with two first-inning runs when RaJayla McBride reached on an error and Carli Pearson worked Richmond Hill’s Adriana Williams for a walk.

One out later, Rhylee Tillery grounded a single to center field driving in both runners.

In the second inning, Lilah Thompson led off with a single to right, but Arrington lined into a double play.

But two Richmond Hill infield errors around a Pearson infield hit led to two more Colquitt County runs and a 4-0 lead.

The Lady Packers sent nine batters to the plate in the fourth, getting five hits and scoring three runs.

Thompson reached on an infield hit to open the inning, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored when Arrington’s fly to left-center fell between the two colliding outfielders.

After McBride reached on an infield hit and Pearson flied out, Maris Hopper lined a hit off the third baseman’s glove scoring Arrington.

McBride scored the final run of the inning on Rheygan Harrell’s infield hit as Colquitt went up 7-0.

Richmond Hill put that lead in peril the final two innings before the Lady Packers prevailed.

Colquitt had 11 hits, including five in the three-run fourth inning.

McBride, Harrell and Thompson each had two hits. Pearson, Hopper, Tillery, Burley and Arrington had the others.

Arrington’s double was the only extra-base hit.

Stanley had three hits and Tucker-Flynn had two for Richmond Hill.

Ragins, Welch and Jenkins had the others.

Arrington controlled the final four batters in the Richmond Hill lineup who went a combined 0-for-11 with a walk.