GAINESVILLE -- Jonathan Gettys hit two home runs and scattered two hits in five innings on the mound to lead Gainesville to a 7-0 Region 8-AAAAA victory over Winder-Barrow Friday at Ivey-Watson Field.
The Red Elephants (15-4, 10-2 Region 8-AAAAA) have won three straight in the region allowing just three runs in that span.
It was an even more impressive performance for Gettys considering he was pitching with a blister most of the game. He fanned seven Winder-Barrow hitters.
“He had a blister but he pitched through it,” Gainesville coach Jeremy Kemp. “He was solid in spite of that. We played pretty well this week.”
After a scoreless first inning, Gettys would give himself and the Red Elephants all they needed with a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Gainesville added a pair of runs in the third for a 3-0 lead.
Gettys helped put things out of reach in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run home run and a 5-0 cushion. Michael Curry capped the scoring in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run of his own.
Gettys gave way to Mikey Gonzalez in the sixth and the senior right-hander completed the shutout with two scoreless innings. Gonzalez surrendered three hits but struck out four.
Kemp said Gonzalez, who employs a knuckleball, is a valuable guy out of the bullpen.
“Mikey has been throwing well all season and we feel like we can use him a lot with that knuckleball,” Kemp said. “We’re limiting him some but he’s a big guy to help us finish games.”
The loss for Winder-Barrow (12-6, 8-4) knocked the Bulldoggs two games behind Gainesville after the two teams came into their two-game series tied for first place with Loganville. The Red Devils’ game with Lanier was rained out on Friday.
Next week will be another test for the Red Elephants. Gainesville will travel to Lanier on Monday to start a home-and-home series and then travel to Flowery Branch next Friday.
“It’s going to be another tough week for us,” Kemp said. “This region’s really preparing us for the playoffs. You see a good team every night.”
