By Staff Reports

 

ALBANY – The Americus-Sumter baseball team ended a six-game losing streak with a 6-1 win over Westover on Friday, April 6, at Westover High School.

The Panthers scored one run in the top of the first, one in the third and four in the fifth to earn their third win of the season. The Patriots’ only run came in the bottom of the fourth inning.

With one out in the top of the first, Kierston Harvey reached on an error by Westover second baseman Rodney Bullard. Timothy Etheridge then grounded into a fielder’s choice, advancing Harvey to third. Harvey then scored on a wild pitch by Westover starter DeJuan Canty. Brandon Alford drew a walk, and the Panthers had a runner on first with two outs. However, Braelin Williams grounded out to end the inning.

With one out in the top of the third, Christian Mable singled, then stole second base. Harvey hit into a fielder’s choice, advancing Mable to third with two outs. Then Timothy Etheridge singled home Mable to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

The Patriots scored a run in the bottom of the bottom of the fourth. With two outs and one man on, Davis Spalinger singled to center field, scoring Antonio James. James had reached on a walk and stole second.

In the top of the fifth, the Panthers took advantage of an error and a walk to score two more runs in the inning and take a 4-1 lead. However, the Panthers were not done yet in the fifth. With two runners on and nobody out, Etheridge doubled to right field, scoring Christian Mable and Kierston Harvey, giving the Panthers a 6-1 lead. That would be all the offense Americus-Sumter would need.

The Patriots were not able to score any more runs the rest of the way, and Americus-Sumter earned a much-needed 6-1 victory in Region 1-AAAA play.

Mable led the Panthers’ offense by going 2-for-4 and scoring two runs. Timothy Etheridge went 2-for-3 and drove in two RBIs.

Etheridge started on the mound for the Panthers and got the win. He went the whole way, giving up one run on three hits. He walked two and struck out five.