Veterans takes first loss of the season in matchup against Perry

KATHLEEN, Ga. — The Veterans Warhawks (4-1) varsity baseball team experienced a devastating loss on Friday as the Perry Panthers (6-1) finished 12-7 over the Warhawks.

It was clear the Warhawks were going to face an intense battle from the very beginning.

In the first inning with the Panthers starting at-bat, they gained three runs against the Warhawks, leaving the score 3-0.

While the Warhawks fought valiantly when it was their turn to be at-bat, they failed to make a dent in the deficit that inning.

The Panthers continued to score while stopping the Warhawks in their tracks during the next inning. The score was now 5-0 in favor of Perry.

The same could not be said for the third inning.

Senior pitcher Noah Fries strongly stood at the mound, and brought the Panthers’ streak to a halt.

Even with the Panthers in the lead, the Warhawks refused to let their fighting spirit die.

“They just focused on what we had to do next. Go out there and hit the ball and pitch the ball and see what happens at the end of the game,” head coach Jeff Sans said.

Things began to look up when senior shortstop Gavin Pike made it to first base. Then, Pike stole second before he eventually made it home for their first run of the game.

When senior second baseman Lucas Wilson came up to bat, the Warhawks had their bases loaded, and a chance to push against the Panthers.

Veterans scored another run when senior center fielder JJ Howe made it home. Unfortunately, first baseman Bryce Dryden was caught out at home plate as he tried to do the same.

At the end of the third inning, the Panthers were still ahead with a 5-2 score.

A stalemate stopped both teams during the fourth inning, but the Panthers refused to let this pattern continue. They started the fifth inning strong, gaining three more runs against the Warhawks to lead 8-2.

Perry continue their stride into the sixth inning, gaining another two runs.

Veterans called time three times in the top of the sixth, trying to regroup and limit further damage.

“I think I was just trying to settle them down. They were hitting the ball, we had a few little errors and just step down and play the game right y’know and relax,” Sans said of his message during the timeouts.

It clearly worked, as the Warhawks started their next at-bat with full force.

Both Wilson and freshman Kason Flowers got hit during their at-bats to put runners on first and second.

When senior designated hitter Alex Washington came up to bat, Wilson stole third base. By the end of his turn, Washington stole second base.

With junior left fielder Joshua Chavous at-bat, Wilson took his chance to make it home.

Washington, now in scoring position, waited for Chavous to bring him home.

Not taking this chance for granted, Chavous launched the ball into the outfield with a triple, allowing Washington to cross home plate.

Chavous also made it home, but Veterans still trailed 10-5 at the end of the inning.

Though the Warhawks managed to tack on two more runs, they still fell in a 12-7 final score, making it a win for the Panthers.

To prepare for the next game, Sans noted: “We’re gonna go over this game and the mistakes that we made, and realize that Perry hit the ball well, but we gave up five or six outs that we shouldn’t have and if we didn’t do that, it’s a different game.”

UP NEXT

The Warhawks will hit the diamond again this week starting on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at Mary Persons at 6:30 p.m. and will be back home in a rematch against the Bulldogs on Friday, March 1 at 6:30 p.m.

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