Troup wins wild one over Cedartown

Published 11:08 pm Tuesday, September 18, 2018

By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

The bad news for the Troup Lady Tigers was that they gave up 14 runs during Tuesday’s region game against Cedartown.

The good news was that Troup had even more offensive success in a game that featured 32 runs and nearly as many hits.

Troup, which scored 16 runs in Monday’s win over Woodward Academy beat Cedartown 18-14 to get a much-needed Region 5-AAAA victory.

Troup improved to 3-8 in the region and ended a seven-game losing streak against region opponents.

Troup completes region play on Thursday at Central-Carroll, and it will then wait to see where it will be seeded for the region tournament.

The Lady Tigers have had their struggles over the past month, losing nine straight games at one point, but they’ve put it all together this week.

Following a 16-0 win over Woodward Academy, Troup enjoyed its most successful offensive day of the season against Cedartown.

“This is the team we’ve been looking for since the beginning of the season,” Troup head coach Kayla Yeargin said. “I’ve told them all year I want to peak at the end. That’s when it really matters. They’re starting to shine and do what we ask.”

A year ago, Troup got hot at the end of the season, and it beat Cartersville and Cedartown in the region tournament to qualify for state.

One of the players who carried Troup down the stretch last season was Kayla Lane, and she  was one of the offensive heroes in Tuesday’s game.

Lane, a senior shortstop, had three hits, including a two-run triple during a seven-run third inning.

Lane finished with four RBIs.

Olivia McInvale also had three hits and an RBI, Emilee Johnson had two hits with a double and two RBIs, and Skye Loftin and Hadleigh Livingston each had two hits with one RBI apiece.

Madison McCartney had a hit and three RBIs, Avery Pearson had a single and two RBIs, and Morgan Watkins had a hit.

Eight different Troup players had hits.

“We’re starting to be that consistency all through the lineup,” Yeargin said.

After Troup took a 9-4 lead through three innings, Cedartown exploded for 10 runs in the top of the fourth to surge back ahead.

Back came Troup with four runs in the bottom of the fourth to get within one, and it took the lead, this time for good, with five runs in the fifth inning.

While the day was mostly about the offenses, Troup pitchers Avery Pearson and Makenzie Miller combined to hold Cedartown scoreless over the final three innings.

Miller was the winning pitcher, and Pearson got the save.