THOMASVILLE – Thomas County Central topped Jackson County on Friday to move on to the second round of the state playoffs. The Lady Jackets sent the Lady Panthers packing in just two games, though the series was not without its drama.

Thomas County Central took an early lead in game one after one run was sent in on a hit-by-pitch and a second was walked in. That lead wouldn’t last long, however, as Jackson got the bats going in the middle innings. The Lady Panthers would secure 13 hits in the game on their way to taking a 5-2 lead after five innings.

The Lady Jackets responded by taking advantage of three errors early in the sixth by Jackson, scoring Rebecca Willis and Kaleigh Goodin to bring Central within one. Gina Morabito would tie it at five after stealing second and third and waltzing across home plate on a Jaida Pinkins line drive.

A three up three down sixth put Central back on the base path and they tacked on two more. A ground ball by Goodin scored Chloe Kindred and Addison Odum followed that up with a deep homer to center field. Central led 7-5 and, though they allowed a run in the final frame, the Lady Jackets held on for the 7-6 game-one victory.

Game two was all Central early on as they took an early 1-0 lead in the first on a hit-by-pitch after three consecutive two-out singles. Central sat down nearly every batter they faced through the first four innings.

Laney Mobley was on the mound for the Lady Jackets. She secured three K’s in the game and allowed five hits in seven innings pitched.

Central poured it on in the fourth with another two-out rally, this time started by Morabito. Pinkins followed with an RBI single of her own, and Kennedy Warren sent a ball to center that was good for an RBI double making it 5-0.

Jackson scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, but it was too little too late, and Central took the series sweep 2-0.

The Lady Jackets will now face the Lady Mustangs from South Effingham in round two. The Lady Mustangs are the region 1 5A champions and are coming off a high-scoring three-game series against Etowah.