The Liberty County High School baseball team opened its season by winning one at home and losing one on the road this week.
The Panthers beat McIntosh County Academy, 2-0, Tuesday at LCHS, but fell to Tattnall County, 9-3, Wednesday in Reidsville.
On Tuesday, in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Panthers had runners on second and third and appeared to be about to break the scoreless tie. However, the Buccaneers got out of the jam.
In the sixth, Liberty senior Curtis Michalowicz nearly sent the ball over the fence on a double to wake up the Panther bats. He advanced to third as Jacari Roberts was tossed out at first on a fielder’s choice. J.T. Evans drove in Michalowicz with a hit for the game’s first run. Evans took second on a fielder’s choice. Gary Albertson hit the ball and sprinted to first as Evans held strong at third, but came home on a bad throw by the Buccaneers.
Panther pitcher Colby Rhea got the win, allowing four hits and one walk and striking out eight.
“Colby has a done a great job with his development,” Panther baseball coach Tony Glazer said. “All of his pitches have a good amount of movement on them, and he is able to move the ball around the plate with good accuracy. He rarely walks anyone.”
Glazer said the Panthers’ have five to six solid pitchers on their varsity team.
“We will usually be playing three games a week, so we will need at least that many guys available to pitch,” he added.  
Albertson also had a run-saving catch in the top of the fifth, keeping the visiting team off the scoreboard.
On Wednesday, the Panthers gave up eight hits to the Warriors.
The Panthers host crosstown rival Bradwell Institute at 6 p.m. today.