Lyons, GA. – October 19, 2024 | Coach Hayne Brant
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The Toombs County Lady Dawgs kicked off their first round playoff series against Putnam County with a commanding 15-0 victory on Friday, led by a stellar offensive performance from Aniston Powell. Powell drove in five runs on two hits, including a double in the first inning that brought home three runs and a single in the second inning that added two more.
The Bulldogs set the tone early, scoring nine runs in the first inning. Cyleigh Ennis got things started with an RBI single, followed by a two-run double from Shay Stringer. Brinley Miller added to the tally by drawing a bases-loaded walk, Taylor Bland singled in two runs, and Powell capped the inning with her three-run double.
Toombs County continued their offensive onslaught in the second inning, scoring six runs on three hits. Nora Grace Mercer singled to drive in a run, Powell singled for two more RBIs, and additional runs came via a walk, an error, and another RBI single by Miller.
Stringer was lights out in the circle, pitching three perfect innings, striking out nine batters, and allowing zero hits or runs.
The Bulldogs amassed seven walks, with Stringer and Casey Cantwell leading the team with two each.
In the second game of the series, the Bulldogs once again dominated, defeating Putnam County 19-1, thanks to an explosive 16-run second inning. The offensive surge was fueled by patience at the plate, with several Bulldogs drawing key walks and capitalizing on Putnam County’s errors. Shay Stringer highlighted the second inning with a three-run double, while Aniston Powell added a sacrifice fly for an RBI.
Toombs County continued to pour on the runs in the third inning, extending their lead with additional walks and timely hits. Rayne Sears, Aleigha Diaz, and Presley Neesmith each contributed to the scoring effort.
On the mound, Cantwell was dominant, allowing just one run on three hits over three innings, striking out five.
The back-to-back wins propel the Lady Dawgs into the Sweet 16 where they will host Heard County in a best of three series that starts on Thursday, October 24, 2024.
