By Eric R. Wallace

COVINGTON - The Georgia Perimeter College Jaguars (9-17 overall) played host to Young Harris on the Newton campus Tuesday, dropping an 8-1 decision in Georgia Junior College Athletic Association Conference action.

After the loss, Georgia Perimeter head coach Danny Blue acknowledged his team still has a lot of work to do.

"We've got to find some pitchers (who) can throw strikes and if we can do that we can solve a few of our problems," said Blue. "We've been in most of the ball games we've played. We're getting there; it's just going to take awhile."

The Mountain Lions (24-5) jumped on the Jaguars from the first pitch to the final out. Jesse Richardson took the mound for the Jaguars to start the contest, giving up a two-out RBI double in the first inning to Young Harris first baseman Derrick Lowery, bringing the first run across the plate.

Mike Markakis came to the plate in the second inning with men on first and third, finding the hole between shortstop and third base for a two-run double to give the Mountain Lions a 3-0 lead entering the fourth.

"Mike's bat is finally coming around," said Young Harris head coach Rick Robinson. "I thought all of our kids did well tonight on defense and swinging the bat."

The Mountain Lions picked up two more runs in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead before Georgia Perimeter could get its offense cracking. Trent Freeman singled to right to bring the Jaguars' only run of the day across the plate.

In the top of the seventh, Markakis came calling again, this time hitting a towering shot over the left center field fence for a three-run homer to give the Mountain Lions an 8-1 lead, clinching the win for his team.

"I'm starting to come around a little bit," said Markakis. "He threw me a curve that hung a little and I connected. I thought I had popped it up, but I guess it just kept going."

The game ended with Georgia Perimeter going three up and three down, with the Mountain Lions loading up the bus to hit I-20 with yet another conference victory to add to their already impressive record.

Overall, Young Harris tallied 12 hits while committing seven errors. Meanwhile, the Jaguars had 10 hits and three errors.

"They've got good hitting and good pitching," said Blue. "We hit four and walked five, and that's the story."

For the Jaguars, they are a young squad still trying to find themselves, particularly on the mound. They currently start eight freshmen, but the potential is certainly there.

Georgia Perimeter will next visit Truett-McConnell College at 3 p.m. today.