Lady Packers fall to Cairo 4-3, will open playoffs against Etowah
Published 10:31 am Thursday, October 10, 2024
MOULTRIE – Cairo scored a run after a pair of errors in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 4-3 victory over Colquitt County on Wednesday in Cairo.
The loss drops the Lady Packers record to 18-9 overall as they prepare to face Lowndes at 5 p.m. Thursday at Packer Park in their regular-season finale.
Colquitt, the Region 1-6A champion, will open the state playoffs on Wednesday, October 16, at Packer Park with a 5 p.m. doubleheader against Etowah.
The “if” game of the best-of-three series against Etowah, the No. 4 team from Region 5, would be at 5 p.m. Thursday, October 17.
Also in the first round, Region 1-6A runner-up Richmond Hill play host to Walton; No. 3 Lowndes will go to North Paulding; and No. 4 Tift County will travel to North Cobb.
The Lady Packers had defeated Lanier County, the top- ranked team in Region 1-A Division II, 12-8 on Tuesday, but did not score again after taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning against the Syrupmaids.
Colquitt managed just four hits against Cairo starter Jada Vickers, who went all seven innings and struck out six.
Colquitt scored a run in the top of the first when RaJayla McBride walked, stole second, went to third on a bunt single by Peyton Arrington and scored on Rhylee Tillery’s sacrifice fly.
Aziah McNeal opened the second inning by drawing a walk and scoring on a triple by McBride, who then scored the Lady Packers third and final run on a ground out by Arrington.
The Syrupmaids tied the game in the bottom of the second with three runs, two of which scored on a two-out single by Josie Noriega.
The score remained tied until the bottom of the seventh when an infield error and an outfield error with two outs sent the winning run to the plate.
McBride had two hits, a single and a triple, to lead the Lady Packers.
Arrington and Kamry Paulk had singles for Colquitt’s other two hits.
Paulk took the hard-luck loss.
She gave up five hits, walked three and struck out three.
The win gives Cairo a 14-7 record as it prepares for the Class 3A state playoffs.
