Marianna Ponytails eliminate Sneads

By SHELIA MADER
Published: June 21, 2008

In Dixie Ponytail softball action, it came down to two Jackson County teams Saturday at Optimist Park to decide who would face off against Port St. Joe for the district championship on Monday.

Sneads and Marianna went into Saturday’s matchup with identical 1-1 records, both facing elimination with a loss.

However, Marianna proved to be too experienced with a 10-0 five-inning win over Sneads.

Sneads fell Thursday night to Port St. Joe, 16-5 but bounced back Friday night to take a 15-9 elimination victory over Franklin County.

Marianna advanced to Saturday’s matchup after a 15-4 win over Franklin County Thursday night before suffering a 3-2 loss to Port St. Joe on Friday night.

In Saturday’s game, Breanna Willis took the mound for Marianna and went two innings, giving up no runs and one hit while striking three.

Shaniah “Strawberry” Spellman came on in relief for one inning, allowed four runs on five walks and two hit batters.

Sheridan Dryden came on to close out the game in the fourth inning, retiring the side in order with a fly out to Hannaih Spooner at second and two strikeouts.

Lindsey Eubanks started on the mound for Sneads before giving way to Katlyn Bohanon for the final three innings.

Leading Marianna in offense was Reagan Oliver who was 2-for-2, followed by Spellman and Faith Moore who both picked up a hit.

Sneads recorded no hits in the game.
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In Friday night’s game, Reagan Oliver took the 3-2 loss for Marianna, giving up three runs, one earned, on three hits and seven walks with two errors committed behind her.

Offensively for Marianna, Jordan Hussey had an inside-the park home run that scored Tamera Pope, who had taken advantage of an error at short to reach first safely.

Going into the final inning, Marianna led 2-1.
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Thursday night, it was Willis picking up the 15-4 win over Franklin County.

Willis allowed the four runs on six walks, one hit and one error.

Leading Marianna at the plate was Caitlyn Carpenter, who was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, followed by Willis who tripled and scored twice.

Faith Moore, Reagan Oliver and Tamera Pope all had hits in the game.
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Friday night, Sneads avoided elimination with a sound 15-9 defeat of Franklin County.

Eubanks picked up the win. At the plate, Eubanks helped herself out by going 2-for-2 at the plate, followed by Bohanon, who was 1-for-1.

The win pits Marianna against Port St. Joe on Monday night with first pitch slated for 5:30 p.m.

A win will force the two teams to meet again on Tuesday, whereas a loss by Marianna will eliminate them.