Playoff push
Brookwood secures No. 2 seed with win against Tiftarea
THOMASVILLE — With a leaping grab over Fenlon Field’s outfield fence, Brookwood softball also grabbed home field advantage in the first round of next week’s GISA Class 3A playoffs. The Warriors got off to a slow start at the plate, but utilized speed, timely hits and heads-up plays to come away with a 4-1 win against Tiftarea Academy in a region tiebreaker game Tuesday. Down a run with just one knock and three total base runners entering the fifth, Brookwood’s bats began to come through.
Onna McBride hit a single to start her team off.
She moved to second on a wild pitch but sprinted to third, seizing the opportunity with Tiftarea catcher Morgan McKay off guard.
After a strikeout, Jessie Wortman tied the game at 1-1 with a bunt single, scoring McBride. Dara Moore gave her team the lead with another single to score Wortman later in the inning.
In the sixth, the Warriors added two more, with Wortman bringing Mc-Bride and Abby Lee across the plate with another base hit.
Down three runs as the home team, Tiftarea had one last chance in the bottom of the seventh. All three Brookwood outfielders made catches to end the game, with right fielder Anna Stencel making the final out by leaping up and robbing a home run over the center field fence on a shift.“The total team effort that these girls put in that game, it makes you proud as a coach,” Brookood head coach Christa Boggs said. “That’s what you work for, from top to bottom, every girl being a part.” The win did not come easily, especially early on.
Warriors pitcher Landry Joyner found herself in a bases-loaded jam with nobody out in the bottom of the first after an error, a double and a walk to start the Panthers’ order. Brookwood came away from that situation unscathed, with Joyner inducing a throw home from the shortstop Wortman, followed by two popups. Joyner ended her day in the circle with seven strikeouts and five hits allowed over seven innings.
Despite the escape act, Panthers pitcher Sara Kate Lupo struck out eight Brookwood batters in the first four frames and 12 for the game.
Brookwood was able to get its key hits as the game drew to a close. Wortman finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored.
McBride also went 2-for-3 and scored two runs, while Moore went 2-for-4.“In the box, it was just a matter of getting down the timing and working the six inches between their ears,” Boggs said.
“They needed to believe that they could put the ball in play. After they settled down, they were able to make it happen.”
The Warriors will host Bulloch Academy, the No. 3 team from Region 2-3A, on Oct. 10 to start the GISA state playoffs.
Brookwood School
Located in Thomasville, GA, Brookwood School is a private school for grades JK-12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.