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Troup softball saw its season come to an end in the first round of the playoffs on Friday, falling in both games of a doubleheader against Mary Persons. It was a heartbreaking finish for the Tigers, who fought until the bitter end.

 

GAME ONE: 

Troup – 14

Mary Persons – 15

 

The Troup softball team let a late lead slip in game one of the first round of the 3A state playoffs on Thursday, allowing Mary Persons’ to earn a 15-14 walk-off win. 

The Tigers opened the scoring in the top of the first when Olivia Damron hit a two-run triple. The Bulldogs struck right back with four runs in the bottom of the first inning as they took their first lead of the game.

That was just the start of a wild game as Troup immediately retook the lead in the second inning with three runs. Kaylee Cardwell hit a one-run single to cut the Mary Persons’ lead to just one run. An error later in the inning would allow two more runs to score and give Troup a 5-4 lead. 

The Bulldogs would pounce in the third inning, scoring 7 runs to take a commanding 11-5 lead.

The Tigers would claw back into the game in the fourth, scoring three runs to cut the Mary Persons’ lead down to 11-8. Sheniyah Philpot, Kaitlyn Smalle and Damron hit back-to-back-to-back one-run doubles to get the Tigers back in the ballgame. Troup had a chance for more but left runners stranded on first and second. 

The Tigers kept chipping away, scoring two runs in the top of the fifth to trim the Bulldog lead to just one run. Gracie Baker hit a one-run single and an error allowed her to score later in the inning to make it an 11-10 game.

That was far from the final score of the game with the Bulldogs scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead back out to three runs. 

Troup would not go quietly into the night as Smalley delivered the biggest hit of her career in the top of the sixth. The junior hit a two-run double to give Troup a 14-13 lead. This was after an error allowed two runs to score for Troup earlier in the inning. 

Troup had a chance to win the game with two outs and a runner on second base in the seventh inning, but the Bulldogs fought to the end and walked away with a massive victory.

Smalley and Damron were forces of nature at the plate as both finished with two hits and three RBIs. Cardwell also finished with two hits while Baker, Philpot and Maddie Colson all had one each.

Smalley got the start in the circle for Troup in the game, pitching all seven innings.

 

GAME TWO:

Troup – 2

Mary Persons – 5

 

The Tigers had to fight for their playoff lives in game two and fight they did until the final out but could not rally and extend their season.

The Bulldogs took that momentum from game one into game two and took an early 1-0 in the top of the first inning. 

That lead would last until the third inning when the Troup bats returned to game one form. Kaylee Cardwell got the fun started when she launched a solo home run over the centerfield wall. The Tigers would take the lead later in the inning when Sheniyah Philpot hit a sacrifice fly.

The Troup lead would be short-lived as the Bulldogs retook the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. 

Mary Persons was able to add to its lead with a pair of runs in the sixth inning, pushing its lead out to 5-2. 

Hits were harder to come by than in game one as the team could muster just four in total. Zoe Graham, Gracie Baker, Cayleigh Godfrey and Cardwell all had a hit apiece. 

After throwing 131 pitches in game one, Smalley got right back to work in game two and started in the circle for Troup in game two. She threw a complete game, tossing another 90 pitches.

Errors plagued the Tigers in game two as just one run was credited to Smalley. 

The Tigers went 0-4 against Mary Persons this season. The future is extremely bright for Troup as the team has no seniors and will see all its star players return to the fold next season.