Panther Pit to compete in GHSA Sweet-Sixteen

On Wednesday, the Panthers from Perry hosted Shaw (Columbus) in another region showdown. Wednesday evening was opening day of the 2022 GHSA State 4A playoffs for the Panther Pit and Shaw.

The Panthers prevailed to a 5-1 win in Game One. The Panther Pit scored threeruns in the first inning. Both team scored no runs during the second inning. Perry scored another two runs in the fourth inning. Shaw scored their only run of the game during the sixth inning.

Brayden Long was threefor three, with one homer and one run batted in. Tyler Newhouse was two for four, with two RBI’s and one home run. Carson Bryant was on the mound for the Panthers, as he struck out eight Shaw batters and walked just two.

In Game two of the playoff double-header, the Panther Pit left Shaw scoreless. Of Perry’s six runs scored, two runs were scored in the first inning. The Panthers scored another three in the fourth inning, and their final run was scored in the final inning. Tanner Knowles was three for three, with three runs batted in. Ben McDow was on the mound and completed seven strikeouts, while walking just two batters.

Perry advances to the Sweet-16 round, where the Panther Pit will face Druid Hills (Atlanta). Druid Hills is 17-6 on the year and finished their region as the second seed from region six. Druid Hills are not pushover, as they won ten region games and lost just two.

Perry Panther Pit’s Coach Denny Bryant had the following to say after the Panthers prior to Perry’s Wednesday evening contest: “It was a big win against Shaw on Wednesday. The Panthers have won their last ten games. Carson Bryant, Brayden Long and Tyler Newhouse all batted over .500 towards season’s end. Bryant and Knowles have hit several homers during our post season. We were strong in region play, and it is important to keep it going through the state playoffs.”

The Panther Pit Crew is 24-9 overall and after their recent win, finished at only one loss in region 4-4A (4-AAAA). The ten-game winning streak for the Panther Pit has sparked momentum within the team.

The Panthers have only lost three games at home and three games on the road. Alongside winning ten road games, the Panthers have won tweleve games, at home. The Panthers have scored 288 runs, allowed ninety-eight runs and will compete in the GHSA class 4A Sweet-16, within the coming days. Coach Bryant mentioned earlier during the season, “We stacked the front end of the schedule to help us prepare for the playoffs”. A prepared Panther Pit can be dangerous for opposing class 4A teams.

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