The Newnan Cougars took a moment on Tuesday night to honor their teachers before their region game against the Langston Hughes Panthers.
After educators took turns throwing out the honorary first pitches, the Cougars got down to business and defeated the Panthers 9-1.
Fresh from the teachers showing their skills in the pregame, the Cougars starting pitcher Wills Maginnis struck out the side in the top of the first. The Cougar offense answered the opening bell also.
A Maginnis hit scored Garrett McGee, and a bases-loaded walk to Ben Edge scored the second run of the opening frame to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead. They scored three more in the fifth innings, including Maginnis's solo home run to left field.
They closed their offensive performance with four in the ninth to set the final margin of 9-1. Maginnis easily earned player of the game honors with a perfect night at the plate, 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBI, including the homer. He also earned the victory on the mound with five innings of four-hit ball.
Other offensive stars included Edge, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Drew Ellsworth and Hunter Snyder also had hits, and the Cougar batting order worked the Panther pitching staff for 11 walks.
Dylan Davis came in to pitch the final two innings and struck out five of the six batters he faced.
The Cougars won three of their first four region games to hold on to second place in the 5-6A standings.
Next week, they travel to Paulding County on Monday, then play East Paulding on the road on Wednesday and return to play them at home on Friday, March 24.
