Brookwood softball falls just short of a region title against Valwood

Published 1:05 am Friday, September 22, 2017

THOMASVILLE — Brookwood’s softball team has been able to string together come-from-behind victories all year long.

However, the Warriors themselves were on the receiving end of a comeback in a huge region game on Thursday night, with the Valwood Valiants scoring five late unanswered runs to claim a 5-3 win and the GISA Region 3-3A title at Fenlon Field.

Brookwood got off to a hot start after two scoreless innings. After not capitalizing with two runners in scoring position in the first, the Warriors struck first in the third inning with a Ann Murray Jackson single that scored Mollie Vick. Later in the frame, Landry Joyner came across from third on a double steal to make it 2-0. 

Joyner was also pitching well in the game’s first half. Although she eventually took the loss, she allowed just one hit through four innings.

Dara Moore reached on an error in the bottom of the fourth, scoring Kelley Richardson for a 3-0 lead. 

The Valiants began their game-winning run in the top of the fifth with a two-out, three run rally with two RBI singles to make it 3-2. One inning later, Valwood took its first lead with a few more key hits, and in the last inning it took advantage of a few Brookwood errors to extend its lead to two.

The Warriors had the meat of its order up in the bottom of the seventh, but despite a double from Joyner, they could not extend the game further.

“That’s great softball right there,” Brookwood coach Christa Boggs said. “Both sides played great, but we came up just barely short. I’m super proud of (Landry and Dara) for the defensive game that they played. Their defense stood behind them and made the plays.

“(Valwood’s) got good sticks. To hold them to the runs that we did, I was pleased.”

Brookwood will travel to play Thomasville for the second time this season on Monday.