QUITMAN — For a team that played for a South State championship last year, one wouldn't expect nerves to be a problem in the opening round of the playoffs.
That didn't seem to be the case here Thursday night as Quitman got off to a slow start, but still came away with a sweep of Picayune — winning 2-1 and 13-2.
The Lady Panthers only picked up seven hits in the opening game and stranded nine base runners.
"In the second game we executed a lot better with runners on base," said QHS coach Kacie Luebbers. "We came out and scored four runs in the first inning and made a statement."
After Brooke Dew and Stormy Lewis reached on an error and an infield singles to open Game 2, Quitman pounded out three straight extra base hits — doubles by Ashley Downing and Tori Dew and a triple by Relanda McFarland — to take the quick 4-0 lead.
The Lady Maroon Tide — playing as the home team in the second game — put one run on the board in the bottom of the inning, but Brooke Dew was able to pitch her way out of jam to end the frame without allowing too much damage. The southpaw struck out Tiffany DeVore with the bases loaded.
Dew, who missed several games with an injury to her non-throwing arm, struck out two batters in the late game and allowed six hits.
"Brooke has stepped back in and done a good job," Luebbers said. "She lost her focus there and walked a few batters. She even told me she was a little nervous, but as long as she stays focused she's doing a good job for us."
Two more innings passed before Quitman started to run away with the game.
After a quick groundout to start the frame, Sarah Beth Neely doubled to left and the carousel began for the Lady Panthers — as eight of the next nine batters reached base.
Angel Johnson reached on an error that scored Neely. Krystyn Davis followed with an RBI triple and scored when Brooke Dew grounded out to second.
Five straight singles — two of which drove in runs — gave Quitman a 9-1 lead.
A nice diving catch by Taylor Seals robbed Shannon Mosley of at least an RBI single to end the inning with the bases loaded.
QHS gave up the Lady Tide's only other run in the bottom of the inning.
Back-to-back doubles by Neely and Johnson to start the fifth put Quitman up 10-2. Johnson later scored on a sacrifice fly by Lewis.
Picayune went three-up, three-down in its half of the fifth, leaving the Lady Panthers with a nine-run lead.
The nails in the coffin came in what turned out to be the last inning of the game. Tori Dew led off with a double and her pinch runner, Whitni Neely, was moved to third when Rachael Johnson singled down the third base line.
Mosley then grounded out to second. After she was out, first baseman Hillary Dickens threw home to try to double up Neely. Her throw ricocheted of the catcher's mask — which was laying next to the plate — allowing both Neely and Johnson to score the final runs of the game.
The Lady Panthers' first victory was much closer as Quitman only scratched across two runs — both of which came in the fourth inning.
Angel Johnson drew a bases-loaded walk to score McFarland, who reached on an error to start the inning.
Johnson's at bat was followed by Davis who grounded to DeVore at short. DeVore tagged out Mosley, who was on her way to third. Rachael Johnson scored on the play.
Picayune's lone run came in the fifth inning on a sac fly.
The Lady Wave threatened again in the sixth, but a shoestring catch by McFarland ended the inning with two PHS runners on base.
Quitman will take on D’Iberville Saturday in second-round action.
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Lady Panthers shake nerves, sweep series
Quitman defeated Picayune 2-1 and 13-2
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Neel leaving champion War Eagles for Panthers
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After all, Southeast Lauderdale senior right-hander Colby Ramey needed just 65 pitches to beat Kossuth in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game Thursday.
However, according to fellow senior Blake McMullen, Ramey cleared the hurdle Wednesday when he scattered eight hits on 104 pitches to finish off the Aggies in a 6-3 state championship-clinching win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday. -
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