The young Lady Tiger squad is having a solid 2024 season so far on the diamond, despite the fact that they have had to rely on all three freshmen that on their roster. Pitcher Chloe Boulineau, catcher/infielder Sara Smith, and outfielder Izzy Baird have been in the line-up on a nightly basis and all three have made significant contributions to the team. Boulineau and Smith have teamed up to give the Lady Tigers a pretty formidable pitcher/catcher duo while Baird has played solid defense in the outfield.
Last Tuesday, September 10, Swainsboro hosted region foe, St. Vincent’s Academy. In the bottom of the third inning, clinging to a 1-0 lead, Cassie Jordan came to the plate and delivered a bases loaded single which cleared the bases and stretched the Lady Tiger lead to 4-0. In the fourth inning, Swainsboro would then play a little small-ball and manufacture another run. Gracie Beneteau led off with a bunt single, freshman Chloe Boulineau laid down a sacrifice bunt, Beneteau then stole third base, and finally freshman Sara Smith drove her in with a sacrifice fly. Swainsboro scored two more runs later in the game to complete the 7-0 shutout. The Swainsboro offense was led by Berklie Bishop (3-4) and freshman Izzy Baird (2-3). Chloe Boulineau tossed the complete game shutout, allowing just one hit and two walks in the game while striking out 11 batters.
Another big region match-up was on the schedule for Thursday, at Vidalia but the game was postponed due to the weather. The game has been rescheduled for September 30.
Monday night, September 16, the Tigers traveled to Johnson County to face a red-hot Lady Trojan team that had won seven of its last eight games. Earlier in the season, Swainsboro had defeated Johnson County in a high-scoring 13-9 offensive battle, but Monday’s game was pretty much a battle of pitching and defense. Swainsboro opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning with a single run which was matched by Johnson County in the bottom half of the inning. Those were the only two runs scored in regulation.
In the top of the eighth inning, Sara Smith was hit by a pitch and reached base but was left stranded on base due to back-to-back diving catches in the outfield by Johnson County left fielder Callie Carter. In the bottom half of the eighth inning, Johnson County was able to move a runner to second base which eventually scored on a Kinsley Price walk-off single.
The Lady Tigers certainly pitched well enough to pick up the win and the defense played error free ball, but the offense only managed five hits on the evening. Chloe Boulineau took the tough luck loss despite scattering five hits and two runs over seven and a third innings. With the loss, Swainsboro’s season record fell to eight wins and eight losses.
Thursday’s game against Wheeler County has been canceled, but the Lady Tigers will travel to Metter next Monday, September 23, for a 5:30 p.m. game before returning to Tiger Field for a region match-up with Toombs County at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24. © Copyright 2024 The Forest-Blade/Emanuel County Live. All rights reserved.
