Page 2C THETHE NORTH NORTH GEORGIA GEORGIA NEWS NEWS September September 16, 202016, 2020

SportsSee the Sports Section at nganews.com Softball: Lady Panthers rally past Banks in extra Sisum’s walk-off caps perfect week, ends four-game skid to Leopards By Todd Forrest Sports Editor [email protected]

Sixth-ranked Union County rallied not once, but twice, in a 6-5 extra- vic- tory over defending State champ Banks County. “It’s the best feeling ever,” Union County senior Hannah Patton said after finally getting over the hump vs. Banks. “We came (into the year) calling it our ‘revenge tour’ and this was a huge revenge win for us.” After overcoming defi- cits of 3-0 and 5-3, the Lady Panthers forced only to watch Banks open the eighth inning with consecutive singles. With runners on first and second, senior Trinity Queen got the , but a dropped third strike resulted in a Leopards’ baserunning miscue. Believing the batter was Junior Lexi Sisum singles up the middle in the eighth inning to score Senior catcher Hannah Patton makes a put- at home in the third inning to keep the Lady Panthers within free to on the dropped strike Patton and end the game with a 6-5 win. Photo/Todd Forrest one run at 4-3. Photo/Todd Forrest (she couldn’t with first base oc- Mitchell said of the decision not have to thank the One above for inning when she fired to first ing out Sisum with two runners half of the fifth with a base up cupied), both baserunners took to . “Sure enough, she hit it giving me the ability to do those for the third out. Immediately, in . the middle, then Queen was hit off, resulting in a second out right back to the . If (the type of things.” the Banks first base began The Leopards regained by a 1-1 , putting the tying on the basepaths when Union ball) is a few inches to the right, “In the past, she might arguing that first baseman Kae- the lead in the third as control is- run at first. County caught the runner be- it’s a base hit up the middle. So have given up on herself, but lyn Jones stepped off the bag. sues plagued Queen in the early A moved both tween first and second in a I was a little upset with myself this time, she kept on fighting,” As two Leopards came around going. After a leadoff single, runners into scoring position, . over that one.” Mitchell said when about Sisum to score, and Union County Queen plunked the next hitter, allowing pinch-runner Katie By- “That was one of the few Stepping to the plate with overcoming a tough day at the headed to the , the allowing Banks to take the lead ers to score on an Aubrie Banton breaks that we caught,” Union two down and the bags empty, plate. agreed with the coach and ruled on a fielder’s choice. sacrifice fly. Sierra head coach Stephen Mitchell Patton nearly ended the game Not only did Union the runner . Things could’ve been Burnette followed with another said. “(Banks) made a mistake with one swing of the bat, send- County battle back from a pair “Things didn’t go our worse for Queen and the Lady sac-fly, scoring Karnes and tying and we were alert and didn’t get ing a deep fly ball into right- of multi-run deficits, but they way early and we had a tough Panthers, but a put-out at home the game at 5-5. caught off guard.” center field. She may not have also overcame a scary moment injury but we just didn’t quit by Patton resulted in the first Queen started to look like Queen escaped the inning ended the game with a walk-off involving junior first baseman and kept going,” Mitchell said. out, limiting the visitors to just her old self and retired the side with a grounder to first, keeping homer, but her two-out set Rebekah Chambers. With two “I was very proud of them. one run. 1-2-3 in the sixth. Later, she the score deadlocked at 5-5. the stage for junior Lexi Sisum. down in the top of the first, Our demeanor never changed Still down 4-3 in the worked around a two-out walk The Lady Panthers also “The ( play) was a Banks County’s left-handed throughout the ball game.” fourth, Union wasted a first and in the seventh. caught an unlucky break in the little rattling at first, but I went cleanup hitter Kylee Brooks Trailing 3-0 entering the third, one-out situation when “T.Q. is one of the best bottom half of the inning after ju- up there knowing that I still had turned on an inside pitch, smok- bottom of the second, the Lady Banks County starter Jacy Ay- around and I told her a few times nior Ansley Collins led off with a job to do,” Patton said. “Our ing a hard line drive toward Panthers finally received their ers fanned Patton and Sisum to just to keep battling,” Patton a bunt single. With head coach motto this year is to ‘flush it’ and first. wake-up call. Queen walked to preserve the lead. In the ensuing said. “Another motto this year Stephen Mitchell electing not to that’s what I did.” To her credit, Chambers the inning, then Caley at-bat, the Leopards extended is ‘control the controllable’. We sacrifice bunt on the first pitch, Despite struggling for didn’t bail, but at the last sec- Davis drew a two-out walk. Col- their advantage to 5-3 when an can’t control what the umpire sophomore Chloe Potts lined a most of the night with two ond, the ball short-hopped and lins followed suit with another and a walk led to a two-out, calls so I told her to keep throw- hard ground ball up the middle, and two walks, Sisum caught her just above the eye. free pass to load the bases for RBI single. ing her best stuff and if we play where the would-be single was delivered in the clutch, lining a The Leopards would score on Potts, who beat out an infield “(Banks) scored four runs the way we know how, we will snagged by the pitcher, resulting game-winning, RBI single into the injury, taking a 1-0 lead after single - scoring courtesy runner off some weird situations, but come out victorious.” in a 1-6-3 . centerfield for the 6-5 victory. one. They added two more in the Caroline Karnes. our kids didn’t let it bother Unfortunately, the Union “I thought ‘Chloe is see- “I try not to think about second via another unusual play Patton kept the rally go- them,” Mitchell said. “We didn’t County lineup could not end ing the ball well and there is only things too much and just went on the right side of the infield. A ing with a two-run double that flinch, we didn’t waver, we just things in regulation, wasting one bad thing that could happen up there wanting to put the bat ground ball to Emma evened the score at 3-3 before kept on going.” here so let’s take a chance,’” on the ball,” Sisum said. “I just Roxbury appeared to end the Banks County escaped by strik- Roxbury led off the Union See Softball, Page 3C Football: Panthers unable to keep pace at 7th-ranked Commerce Union hosts Chestatee for Senior Night, look to avoid first 0-3 start under Allison By Todd Forrest the ball to start the third. Like I Sports Editor said, it was just a poor job on my part.” [email protected] On the third quarter’s opening drive, the Panthers con- Commerce - No. 7 Com- tinued to lean on the passing at- merce out-rushed Union County tack, advancing into Commerce 438 to -8 and used 14-unanswered territory before turning it over. points to pull away with a 32-14 Following a touchback home-opening victory, dropping on the kickoff, Helcher found the Panthers to 0-2 for the first Keyton Chitwood for 15 yards time since 1997. on second down, then consecu- Trailing 18-7 late in the tive 6-yard strikes to McCombs second quarter, Union County and Noah Underwood moved the used a 10-play, 67-yard scoring sticks once more. drive to pull within four at the A handoff to Walker re- 2:04 mark of the half. sulted in a loss of six due to a Junior running back Car- fumble on the exchange. Faced son Walker punctuated the drive with third-and-16, Helcher and with a 20-yard -and-run McCombs hooked up for 14 on third and goal, trimming the yards, then a quick screen to Tigers’ lead to 18-14 with the Hemphill gained five on fourth- Mason McCombs point-after. and-2. The was not without The Panthers began spin- drama as Union County appeared ning their wheels, however. to convert a previous third and On second-and-10, the Tigers goal from the seven when Lo- With a caravan of Panthers in tow, Elijah Helton (28) has clear sailing after scooping up a Commerce fumble in the first quarter. Photo/Todd Forrest dropped Walker for a loss of gan Helcher found his 6-foot, defender standing in the way of screen passes. After a dropped 8 yards back, setting up the third- 1-minute mark, the Tigers caught five. Following a delay of game 5-inch target, Kaston Hemphill, his first career touchdown, Walk- pass, Union’s fifth-straight bub- and-goal holding penalty and the Union napping, dropping back penalty, resulting in third-and-20, on a fade route in the back of the er lowered his shoulder at the five ble screen moved the chains eventual Walker touchdown. to pass for the first time and con- Helcher was picked off at the endzone. and bulldozed his way across the with Chitwood’s 11-yard catch- Momentum was clearly necting on a 72-yard wheel-route 23-yard line. Instead, a holding penalty goal line for six points. and-run. on the visitor’s side with Union down the far sideline to take a After the defense got a moved the Panthers back to the The drive began with On second-and-10, the County set to receive the second- 25-14 halftime advantage. three-and-out, Commerce forced 20-yard line to replay third-and- consecutive bubble screens to Panthers turned to the tunnel half kickoff. Through the game’s “That touchdown was my Helcher into another third-down goal. This time, Helcher rolled Hemphill for 16 and 12 yards. screen and found success. From first 22 minutes, the Tigers had fault,” Allison said. “I should’ve interception with 5:22 left in the to his right, stopped, turned and Another quick screen, this time just outside the Commerce red yet to attempt a pass. And after had us in better position and that’s third. tossed a perfectly-timed throw- to McCombs on the opposite side zone, McCombs took the short running up the middle on first my fault. Starting from their own back screen to Walker, who was of the field, picked up 10 yards on throw over the middle and down and choosing to forego “For sure, that was a big 47, the Tigers moved inside the immediately sprung by a block first down. weaved his way through traffic the hurry-up offense, Commerce play and a momentum killer. If Union County 9-yard line, where from left guard Aaron Helton and As Commerce remained in for 13-yards. A fumbled snap cost appeared content to take an 18-14 we stop them right there, we go the defense stiffened and kept assisted by the downfield block- soft coverage, the Panthers con- Union 5 yards on first-and-goal, lead to the locker room. into halftime down 18-14, feeling ing of Hemphill. With one final tinued attacking the edges with but Helcher used his legs to get As the clock neared the good about ourselves and getting See Football, Page 3C MOTORCRAFT® MOTORCRAFT® COMPLETE THE BRAKE SERVICE ® 4000 FordPass WORKS Rewards Synthetic Blend Oil Change and More Tire Rotation and Pressure Check • Brake Inspection • Battery Test Bonus $ 95 Vehicle Checkup • Fluid Top-Off • Filter Check • Belts and Hoses Check Points 134 *Up to six quarts of Motorcraft® oil and Motorcraft oil  lter. Motorcraft® is a registered trademark of *Exclusions apply. Taxes extra. 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