Softball Clinches State Playoff Berth
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The Jackson County softball team clinched a berth in the Class AAAAA state playoffs with a 6-0 win over Habersham Central on Thursday night. The Panthers are still in mix for at least securing the No. 2 seed in Region 8, which will guarantee a home playoff series, and potentially the region championship. The Panthers have won six of their past seven games and visit Winder-Barrow on Tuesday night before hosting Alcovy Wednesday to close out the regular season.
In Thursday's win, the Panthers broke open a scoreless tie in the fifth inning when Ryleigh O'Brien's single to center field scored Emery Schiffman, who reached base on a single earlier in the inning. The Panthers carried that one-run lead into the top of the seventh inning, where they padded their lead with five additional runs. Schiffman scored on a sacrifice fly by Lauren Glander, while Sofia McCafferty's single in the following at-bat scored Miabella Lee. Brittani Woodall doubled in the next at-bat to score O'Brien. McCafferty scored the next at-bat on a wild pitch, and Woodall scored later in the inning when Katelyn Czentnar grounded to shortstop.
In the circle, Morgan Clenden struck out four batters, walked just one, surrendered five scattered hits in a complete game shutout to earn her fourth win of the season.