Tifton – After traveling to Perry last week amidst a police chase, Tift County Blue Devils head coach Kyle Kirk hoped to get consistent play from his squad as they opened the season with Ware County. Kirk asked former Tift standout Chance Veazey to throw the first pitch at the contest. After Veazey found the catcher’s mitt, bats for both teams fell quiet.
Tift sent senior Connor Thomas to the mound. Thomas, a hard throwing leftie, signed in January with Georgia Tech. After allowing a lead off double in the top of the 1st frame, Thomas closed the door and pitched his way out of trouble, striking out the 3rd and fourth batters.
Cody Thompson scores the winning run against Ware County. Photo: Shine Rankin Jr./SGSN
Thomas would complete 4 innings of work, giving up two more singles, and walking one as he struck out five in the opener. Kirk called on Ethan Bryant, Blake Becton and Sam Miller in relief. Miller took home the win, giving up two hits and striking out six in the final two frames.
In the bottom of the 8th, firstbaseman Cody Thompson drew a one-out walk. That seemed to open the flood gates of control for Ware pitcher Jet Thomas. Thompson stole second base, and then third. A Brant Watson strike out would bring Luke Stephenson to the plate. Thomas issued him a walk, and followed that up with a walk to AJ Stripling. That brought senior Tanner Nimmo to the plate. Nimmo had walked twice, and fanned on a K earlier in the contest. He proved why he’s the leadoff though, garnering a final walk from Thomas for the RBI and the win.
Tift improves to 1-0, and will host Pierce County tomorrow at the Devil Diamond. Game time is 4:30.