ATLANTA -- Jefferson scored three first inning runs to grab an early lead and then held on for a 5-2 victory Wednesday to win Game 3 over Westminster and advance to its first-ever state championship series.
That would be more than enough for Jake Franklin, who tossed a four-hit complete game to get the win for the Dragons, who took the best-of-three series 2-1.
Micah Carpenter, the Game 1 winner, knocked in one run in the first inning and then scored along with Franklin on a key error by the Wildcats. Carpenter drove in another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly after Franklin had knocked in Taylor Wilkes to push the Dragons lead to 5-1.
Westminster scored single runs in the fourth and sixth but Franklin retired the final five batters to secure the win.
Jefferson next will take on Blessed Trinity in the finals beginning on Saturday in Roswell. Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., with Game 2 to follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1. Game 3, if necessary in the best-of-three series, is set for 5 p.m. Monday in Roswell.
