Panthers win 4th straight region baseball title

Becky Taylor, The Tifton Gazette, Ga.
·3 min read

Apr. 18—CHULA — Make it four in a row.

The Tiftarea Academy Panthers are the GISA Region 3-AAA for the fourth consecutive season. The won the title outright last week, taking two of three games from Brookwood to finish with a 7-2 mark.

"It feels great," said head coach Dusty Griffis, who captures the title in his first season at the helm. "It's just a true testament to the kids, how hard they've worked."

"Couldn't be more proud of the kids. It's just been a blessing. God's really blessed us this season."

The regular season is all but over for the Panthers. They wrap with Senior Night Tuesday against Dodge County. Griffis said senior ceremonies begin at about 4:50 p.m.

"Our region is so competitive," said Griffis. "It's a blessing whenever you're able to take the region again." Brookwood and Southland Academy currently join TIftarea in the top 10 on MaxPreps. "Day in and day out, our region is a battle. We have great teams and great coaches."

Only Valwood and Brookwood were able to win any conference contests from the Panthers, but picking up wins over Tiftarea has been a challenge for everyone in 2022. Though the squad stacked their schedule with GHSA opponents, they are 14-5 on the year. Clinch County, Ola and Lincoln (S.C.) are the only other teams to best them, with two of those games determined by one run.

Hayden Murphy and Logan Moore won games against Brookwood in the final week of region, with the team also getting excellent relief from Lane Cole and Jam Presley. "Lane and Jam did an excellent job," Griffis said. Murphy's ERA is currently sitting at 0.95 and he's averaging two strikeouts per inning.

"Hayden winning the first game set the tone for the series," said Griffis. Murphy fanned 15, but they needed a single from John Jackson in the bottom of the 7th to walk it off, 2-1.

Matthew Malone had begun the 7th with a walk, with the bases quickly loading with a walk to Murphy and hit by Moore. That set up Jackson and his game-winning heroics.

Wesley Malone, after coming close earlier in April, finally muscled his first ever high school homer against the Warriors in the second contest. He's the fourth Panther to go deep this year. The two sides were tied early in the finale, but a five-run 4th and Murphy blast erased all doubt in an 11-5 finish.

"It was just a great team performance by everyone," he said.

Under the lights of Truist Park Saturday, Lincoln defeated Tiftarea, 6-5. Despite the outcome, Griffis described it as "An awesome game." Moore, Murphy and Jackson had two hits each, Jackson contributing a double and Murphy a triple. Murphy, Cole and Presley pitched, allowing no earned runs.

Playoff brackets will be announced later this week. Should the current rankings on MaxPreps hold, Tiftarea will likely host either Westminster of Augusta or Notre Dame in the first round, which begins April 25.