GCHS baseball, softball teams roll to wins over Pass Christian
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By RUSSELL TURNER – Herald Editor
Greene County High School had a good night on Tuesday, as both the Wildcats and Lady Cats claimed big region wins at home over Pass Christian.
The GCHS softballers scratched and clawed their way to a 2-0 win over the Lady Pirates to remain unbeaten in Region 8-4A midway through the first half of the region schedule. It was the seventh straight win for the Lady Wildcats, and they had to overcome 15 strikeouts to get there, leaning heavily on another fine performance in the pitching circle by junior Addie Tungett and clutch hitting in key spots.
Tungett earned the complete-game win with an 11-strikeout performance against Pass. She allowed just one hit, limited walks to three, and pitched her way out of a couple of tight spots. She also scored the only run she would need to earn the win in the top of the third. She was hit by a pitch with two outs in that inning and scored two pitches later when senior Shanna Johnson smashed a triple over the right fielder’s head for her second extra-base hit of the game.
GCHS scattered three other hits over the next two innings but couldn’t turn them into runs. However, sophomore Amiyah Garrett hit the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the sixth for a leadoff triple and scored one pitch later on a sacrifice bunt by senior Riley Kate Byrd.
An error and a single in the fifth inning, along with two one-out walks in the sixth, put the Lady Pirates in prime position to get on the board, but Tungett worked her way out of both situations, benefiting from some solid defensive plays behind her. With a 2-0 lead heading into the top of the seventh, the junior ace took matters into her own hands, striking out the final three batters to seal the victory.
Sophomore Bristol Jones had an excellent game in the circle for Pass, striking out 15 Wildcat batters and issuing no walks. Even with those strikeouts, GCHS outhit the visitors 6-1. Johnson’s two hits led the way, with Tungett, Garrett, Reagan Walters, and Jacie Ethridge adding one apiece.
The Lady Cats, now 11-6 overall and 4-0 in the region, will return to action on Thursday when they host Forrest County AHS for the second game of their home-and-away series.
Wildcats pull away to win game one against Pirates
Junior Kash Kittrell put together another strong performance on the mound Tuesday night to lead GCHS to a 9-5 win over Pass Christian in game one of their three-game region series this week.
Kittrell struck out nine, scattered four hits, and allowed just one earned run over six innings of work. He left the game with a 9-1 lead. Junior Carsen Sanford finished the game for GCHS.
Kittrell gave up two of the hits he allowed in the first frame, leading to the Cats trailing 1-0 right out of the gate. GCHS took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the inning as junior Zaine Moody led off with a walk and scored on a single by freshman Camden Pipkins. Courtesy runner Brady Bolton scored on a passed ball a few batters later.
The Cats extended their lead to 7-1 in the bottom of the third, thanks to four walks, a hit batter, a double by junior Eli Herring, and a sacrifice fly by junior Jackson Odom. Moody scored on a groundout by Pipkins in the bottom of the fourth, and GCHS added another run in the sixth when McLeod was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Moody.
Pass put together three hits in their final frame and benefited from a couple of GCHS miscues, but it was too little, too late as the Wildcats held on for the win.
Herring led the way for GCHS at the plate with two hits. Pipkins, McLeod, Miller, and Odom each tallied RBIs in the win.
The Wildcats, now 12-6 overall and 6-1 in region play, will hit the road on Thursday, traveling to Pass Christian for game two of the series. Game three will be played Friday back at Scott Bray Field. Fans planning to attend should note there is no junior varsity game scheduled. That single varsity matchup is set for an early 6 p.m. first pitch.
