HUNTER COOKSTON
Writer
The Marion County Warriors hosted the Sale Creek Panthers last Friday in an exciting matchup. It was Marion County that pulled away late to secure a 5-4 victory.
The Panthers got off to a hot start as Kyler Gilchrist blasted a solo home run over the left-field fence to open the game. Sale Creek added another run later in the inning after a Warriors error. Axel Swiney then singled for the Panthers, giving them an early 3-0 lead over Marion County.
Presley Bowman helped get the Warriors on track, hitting a double to center field to put his team on the board. Marion County later forced a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit to one run.
The fourth inning is when Marion County took the lead and never looked back. Eli Blevins singled to drive in Neno Humphrey and tie the game. A wild pitch then allowed Eli Thacker to score, giving the Warriors the lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Eli Yell hit a home run that seemingly put the game away.
Swiney homered in the following inning, but the Panthers were unable to push across another run. The Warriors held on to win the tightly contested game that went down to the wire.
Blevins started the game for the Warriors, throwing only one inning and allowing three runs (one earned). Senior Brett Webb pitched the rest of the way, finishing with four strikeouts while allowing just one run.