CALLAWAY -- Jefferson survived an epic 11-inning battle in Game 1 and rode that to a sweep of Callaway Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the Class AAA playoffs.
The Dragons took Game 1 5-3 behind the pitching of Micah Carpenter and Asher Standridge, who got the win going five innings in relief. In Game 2, a 3-0 victory, Ethan Garner earned the win going the distance scattering three hits.
Jefferson trailed 1-0 but rallied in the sixth off Callaway's Perry Keith, who went 10 innings, with two runs in the sixth to take the lead. Callaway tied the game in the bottom of the sixth and it stayed that way until the 11th when the Dragons scored three runs on two hits and one big Callaway error. Standridge gave up one run in the bottom of the inning but was able to close it out for the win.
Jefferson won the second game despite getting just one off Callaway starter Kevin Craft, who fanned 12 Jefferson batters. The Dragons got all their runs in the first on just one hit, which would be the only in the game for Jefferson.
Taylor Wilkes was hit by a pitch to start, stole second and went to third on a third strike wild pitch that allowed Hunter Thompson to reach. Christian Hutch doubled in Wilkes and both Thompson and Hutch would score on a pair of passed balls.
Garner made it stand up retiring 12 of the last 13 batters, including the final 10 to end the game.
The Dragons, the No. 2 seed from Region 8-AAA, move on to the semifinals and will travel to Westminster on Monday. Westminster knocked out fellow Region 8-AAA for Jackson County in a sweep Tuesday in the other quarterfinal matchup on ntheir side of the bracket.
Jefferson was one of four 8-AAA teams to reach the quarterfinals. Region champ Oconee County, which was battling some late-season injuries, was swept by Blessed Trinity, and No. 4 seed Hart County split with Westisde-Augusta on Tuesday.
STATE BASEBALL QUARTERFINALS:
Class AAAAA
Gainesville 1, South Effingham 1
Game 1: Gainesville 5, South Effingham 2
Game 2: South Effingham 10, Gainesville 3
Game 3: 4 p.m. Tuesday at Ivey-Watson Field
Class AAAA
Buford 2, Locust Grove 0
Game 1: Buford 10, Locust Grove 0
Game 2: Buford 8, Locust Grove 5
Whitewater 2, North Hall 0
Game 1: Whitewater 8, North Hall 2
Game 2: Whitewater 10, North Hall 1
Class AAA
Jefferson 2, Callaway 0
Game 1: Jefferson 5, Callaway 3
Game 2: Jefferson 3, Callaway 0
Westminster 2, Jackson County 0
Game 1: Westminster 2, Jackson County 0
Game 2: Westminster 11, Jackson County 0
Class AA
Rabun County 1, Lovett 1
Game 1: Lovett 6, Rabun County 1
Game 2: Rabun County 2, Lovett 1
STATE BASEBALL SEMIFINALS:
(As of Tuesday)
Class AAAA
Buford vs. Wayne County/Cartersville
Class AAA
Jefferson at Westminster
