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Regional softball: Four 2A teams advance; Rutherford falls
Click here for rosters of Port St. Joe, Liberty County and Holmes County, which includes archived stories on teams and players.
Holmes County, Sneads, Liberty County and Port St. Joe advanced in Region 1-2A softball quarterfinals on Wednesday, while Rutherford’s season came to an end.
The foursome set up rematches of district championship games. District 2-2A champion Holmes County defeated Jay 8-6 and will host runner-up Sneads on Friday. Sneads beat Bratt Northview 6-2.
Port St. Joe edged Mayo Lafayette 7-6 to earn a date with Liberty County on Friday. The Bulldogs, who beat the Tiger Sharks for the District 3-2A title, advanced with an 8-4 win over Tallahassee North Florida Christian.
Rutherford was the third and final Bay County team to fall in a regional opener, joining Arnold and Mosley as early eliminations. The Rams fell 4-3 to Gulf Breeze in Region 1-4A.
Region 1-2A
Holmes County 8, Jay 6
BONIFAY — Jay went up 1-0 in the top of the first inning and Holmes County notched two runs in the bottom of the frame and never trailed again, but had to fend off the pesky Royals to advance.
Sarah Pippin had three strikeouts in the complete-game win. She also was 2 for 3 with an RBI for the Blue Devils (21-7).
Jenna Belser was 2 for 3 with two RBIs, Carley Long and Courtney English each 2 for 3 with an RBI and Fallon Braxton had a pinch-hit two-run single in the fifth for Holmes County, which plays at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Region 1-4A
Gulf Breeze 4, Rutherford 3
GULF BREEZE — Rutherford held a 2-0 lead through 4½ innings, but Gulf Breeze scored four in the fifth, including its last run on an obstruction call, for the victory. The Rams (12-12) scored one in the seventh inning and left the tying run stranded on third base.
Amanda Moses’ two-run double in the fourth gave Rutherford a 2-0 lead against winning pitcher Alison Milam, who had 12 strikeouts. Gulf Breeze had two hits to score three runs against losing pitcher Becca Taylor in the fifth. An obstruction call between second and third base brought in another run.
Moses was 2 for 3, Taylor had five strikeouts, a single and an RBI and Chelsey Childers and Skylar Taggart tallied the other two of Rutherford’s five total hits.
