OAKWOOD — West Hall and Dawson County’s split of their key Region 7-AAA doubleheader Friday at Spartan Field has now set the stage for a six-game sprint to the finish for second place.
The Spartans took the first game, 5-2, behind an effective complete-game, seven-hitter from Charlie Cochran. Dawson County, which was mired in a five-game losing streak after losing the opener, salvaged its chances for second place with a 10-6 victory in the second game.
The Spartans (12-8, 6-6 Region 7-AAA) took the first game of the series on Tuesday and owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Tigers (13-7, 7-5) if the two teams finished tied.
Dawson County coach Dwayne Sapp said his team needed something positive after a tough two weeks. The Tigers were swept by No. 2 Franklin County, who has already clinched the top seed from 7-AAA.
“(Winning the second game) was huge in us just getting a win of any kind,” Sapp said. “Our guys are still learning how to win and it was a rough week so we really needed this to get some confidence back. Now we control our own destiny.”
West Hall coach Chad Sage, whose team saw its four-game win streak to get back in the playoff race snapped, said things are headed in the right direction.
“We’ve played well since the Fannin (County) series and I feel like things are coming together for us now,” Sage said. “We really wanted that third game so we could control our own destiny. But, we’re only a game back and there’s six games left. We just need to continue to to try and get better.”
Lumpkin County (11-8, 6-6) is tied with West Hall and the two teams will open a crucial three-game series on Tuesday in Oakwood. Both teams trail Dawson County by one game. The Tigers will travel to Fannin County on Tuesday to open a three-game series.
Game 1: West Hall 5, Dawson County 2
The Spartans rallied from an early 2-0 deficit behind Cochran, who started and went the distance to get the win. Cochran scattered seven hits and fanned seven and stranded eight runners, four in scoring position, as he worked out of a jam in every inning.
West Hall scored three runs in the second and one on the fourth aided by three Tigers errors to retake the lead. It stayed that way until the sixth when the Spartans added another run with two outs for a 5-2 lead.
Cole Wilson had two hits and three RBI to lead the Spartans offense, which had seven hits. Jeffrey Jenkins had two hits and one RBI, Carter, Tanner Lott, Ahmad, Brian Newman, and Trey Horton had one hit apiece. They could have had more but stranded nine runners on base.
Palmer Sapp also went the distance for Dawson County and yielded just seven hits. But his defense committed three errors as only one run was earned.
The Tigers managed seven hits but could not get the big hit. Brise Henson had an RBI hit in the first. Sapp, Tucker Maxwell, Kohlton Brumbelow, Connor Bearden, Jacob Gloeckner, and Austin Young all had one hit for Dawson County.
“We played well and didn’t make any mistakes. That was the key for us,” Sage said.
Game 2: Dawson County 10, West Hall 6
The series finale was a back-and-forth affair the entire way.
Dawson County again quickly jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a RBI ground out by Brody Chester in the first inning. But the Spartans answered right back.
Ahmad singled and went to second after Josh Anderson was hit by a pitch. Both moved up a base after a passed ball and then scored on a bases loaded single by Lott for a 2-1 advantage after the first inning.
The Tigers came right back with a two-out, two-run home by Brumbelow scoring Henson in front of him to retake the lead 3-2 in the second. But West Hall answered the bell again.
Ahmad doubled in Erik Ayala, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the second, to tie the game at 3. Dawson County starter Henson was replaced by Bearden after just 1 2/3 innings. Bearden went 5 1/3 allowing three runs and scattering six hits to get the win.
"Connor did a great job of coming and in and holding things for us to come back,” Sapp said.
The Tigers answered that with a RBI triple by Young scoring Maxwell, who walked to lead off the third, to reclaim a 4-3 lead. Young later scored on a throwing error trying to throw out Bearden, who had walked, at second. Bearden moved to third on a wild pitch and Jenkins walked Henson. Brandon Monkus singled in Bearden to push the lead to 6-3.
The Spartans pulled within 6-4 in the fourth when Newman doubled and later scored on a Dawson County error. They climbed to within 7-6 in the sixth on a two-run single by Gazaway.
Dawson County sealed the win in the seventh. Tucker Maxwell had a two-run triple and then scored on a ground out for a 10-6 lead.
