By Brad Greer

After having scored only two runs in their last 15 innings, the South Panola  bats finally came to life Tuesday as the Tigers erupted for four first-inning runs then cruised to a 10-2 victory over Columbus in Region 2-5A action.

Sophomore Lee Self led the 10-hit Tiger attack with three hits and a pair of RBI’s while Wesley Gregg added two singles and three RBIs as South Panola jumped out to a 7-0 second inning lead. The Tigers would plate three more runs in bottom of the fourth to take a 10-1 advantage as that would be plenty of run support for starting pitcher Ethan Bright.

The senior righty threw a complete game four-hitter while striking out eight and walking two along the way to pick up his third win of the season against only one defeat.

David Renfroe, Joseph Blair, Bright and Self led off the bottom of the first with consecutive singles to produce two runs off Columbus starting pitcher Nick Durrah. Gregg followed with a RBI groundout to score courtesy runner Zach Horne. After a single by Whit Whitten advanced the runners, Corbin Moore added another RBI groundout to plate Andrew Horne from third.

South Panola plated three more runs in the next inning on one hit and three errors by the Falcons. Dane Broome led off by reaching on an error then later scored on Renfroe’s fielders’ choice. Bright would then reach on yet another miscue that allowed Renfroe to score. After Self fanned for the second out, Gregg slapped a RBI single to score Andrew Horne from second.

Columbus, (6-7), got on the board in the fourth as Stefan drilled a two-out RBI double that scored Tyler Mason. The Falcons other run came in the fifth on a RBI groundout by Tyji Hawkins.

The Tigers would then retaliate with three more runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame as Blair and Bright reached on a error and walk. Self and Gregg followed with run-producing singles.

The teams are scheduled to meet again tonight in Columbus starting at 5 p.m with junior varsity action. If the game at Columbus has to be postponed, it will be played Saturday night as a makeup date, according to Tiger head coach Patrick Robey.

South Panola varsity will host Lafayette Co. noon Saturday, followed by the jr. varsity game. If the game has to be played at Columbus, the Tigers will leave after that game and the jr. varsity game will be canceled.