Perry drops first of two-game series against Coffee

PERRY — The Perry Panthers got a taste of their own medicine on Wednesday.

Perry (19-3) has been on the good end of 10 mercy rule games this season, but they were on the other end of the buzz saw in their 13-1 loss to the Coffee Trojans (21-5).

By the end of the second inning the Panthers were down 8-0. Players voiced their frustrations, as well as some energizing words, with each mistake on the field.

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Things slowed down for the Trojans’ offense after the second inning, but the hole was already too deep according to Perry coach Denny Bryant, who compared the next two weeks of their schedule to playoff baseball.

“I’ve been telling these guys, this week and next week is kind of like the playoffs. You’re facing really good teams and you can’t afford to get down in the inning,” Bryant said. “You got to come out ready to go, and we didn’t do that. Pitchers didn’t throw strikes, we gave up a five  spot or six spot in the first inning I think on two hits, and you can’t do that against good teams.”

It’s not like Perry gave away runs the whole night. Coffee had some well hit balls in the gaps, but there were also a fair amount of misplays.

A dropped grounder or a missed throw to a bag were enough to fill in the gaps for the Trojans while they waited for a big hit, though there weren’t many.

The biggest hit was a two-RBI double in the fourth inning, that made it 11-0. For the most part Coffee nickel and dimed the Panthers.

Perry struggled to get things going at the plate, their only run came from a sacrifice hit from Jackson Thompson in the fourth.

UP NEXT

Though these games against Coffee don’t matter as far as region standings go, it’s a good warmup for the Panthers’ biggest series of the season next week.

Perry plays West Laurens for the region championship next week. Game one will be at West Laurens on Monday, April 15 at 5:30 p.m. The final game will be in the Panther Pit on Wednesday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m.