By PATRICK CASEY
The South Walton Seahawks have wrapped up the #3-seed for next week’s District 4, Class A tournament in Blountstown after earning an 8-6 win over Panama City Bozeman on Friday afternoon.
South Walton scored six runs in the bottom of the second inning after falling behind 3-0 in the top half of the frame to take control of the contest. Leah Ellison started the inning off with a single as the Seahawks sent 10 batters to the plate. An error and a sacrifice was followed by a single by Tayler Menard that drove in two runs. Mackenzie Watson walked and Megan MacLeod singled before another error scored several more runs for the Seahawks.
South Walton increased the lead to 8-3 after four innings of play as singles by Kristy Potter, Watson and MacLeod were followed by a walk to Meagan Ellison that forced in a run and a sacrifice fly by Leah Ellison.
Bozeman scratched out a run in the top of the fifth inning as Hannah Redding doubled and eventually scored on a single by Amber Wade to cut the lead to 8-4.
The Bucks were back at it again in the top of the sixth inning as a walk and an error came home to roost on a Nicole Migliori single before the Seahawks recorded the final out of the inning for an 8-6 lead.
Meagan Ellison, who pitched all seven innings of the contest for the Sehawks, retired the side in order in the seventh inning for a quiet finish to a competitive contest as the home team improved to 13-6 overall on the year.
MacLeod led the Seahawks with three hits as the Seahawks took advantage of Bozeman errors to plate four of their eight runs.
The victory avenged a 5-3 loss at Bozeman on Feb. 28 and puts the Seahawks on a collision course with Port St. Joe in a district semi-final contest on April 17 in Blountstown with the winner earning a state playoff berth and a chance at the district title.
South Walton will host the Walton County Softball Tournament on Thursday and Friday this week with the Seahawks squaring off with Walton on the first day at 7 p.m. Freeport and Paxton will open the tourney at 4:30 p.m.