TIFTON — Thomas County Central softball fared well in its final tuneup before the start of the regular season.
While Central dropped a 4-3 decision to Tift County in its preseason scrimmage on Tuesday, the youthful Lady Yellow Jackets nearly overcame a 3-0 deficit.
Laney Mobley pitched five innings and allowed two hits, two walks and two runs. Conley Anderson scored two runs and had one hit. Jaida Pinkins, Rebecca Willis and Gracie Floyd each added a hit for Central.
Head coach Robyn Trammell was pleased to see her team respond after falling behind 3-0 in the second inning.
“I thought they did well for a preseason scrimmage. We’ve got a lot of young kids out there, and they’re getting their experience right now. The older girls did a great job,” Trammell said. “Mobley looked good on the mound. I thought we did okay. Obviously, there’s things to work on. All in all, we’ve just got to keep at it.”
All three runs allowed by Mobley came in the second inning on two infield errors.
“We’ve got some young kids out there, but it’s no excuse. It’s my job to get them ready,” Trammell said. “I’ve just got to keep trying to get them ready. That’s not on them, it’s on me.”
Central’s two runs in the fourth came via a Tift County defensive miscue. Floyd delivered an RBI single in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game 3-3. But Tift County responded with a walk-off in the bottom of the inning.
Central had a chance to take the lead in the top of the fifth. It had the bases loaded with two outs, but a long pop fly was snagged near the fence.
“On the whole, I think everyone was nervous. It was our first time for a lot of them playing a high school game. Even my older ones are young,” Trammell said. “I’ve got a lot of sophomores out there in starting positions. I’m looking for the upperclassmen to really take charge and lead them.”
Central will open the season on Saturday at Wayne County at 11 a.m.