GAINESVILLE — Coming into the season, the North Hall baseball team heard the doubts and questions.
On Friday, the Trojans enjoyed providing the types of answers they have managed all season, as they swept past Carrollton in the first round of the Class AAAA playoffs, winning 5-3 and 10-1 to surge into the Sweet 16 for a fourth straight season.
"It's huge. Most people didn't think we would have made the playoffs -- if so they thought we would would be the fourth seed in our region, which was a very tough region," North Hall coach Trent Mongero said. "We ended up pulling the two seed, and now we're going on to the Sweet 16, so you know we've still got a lot of work to do. We are not satisfied."
There was certainly plenty to be pleased with, however, as the Trojans got strong pitching from two starters still getting used to the postseason. Reese Olson and Corbin Meeler provided North Hall with solid foundations in earning the wins in Games 1 and 2, respectively.
They were backed up by timely hitting -- including one explosive inning in Game 2, as the Trojans sprinted away with the series. Taber Mongero set the plate for North Hall's offense throughout, going 5 for 6 over the two games, including two doubles, four runs scored an RBI and a walk. Fowler Brooks also produce some key hits, including two doubles and two RBI. His play in Game 2 proved especially decisive.
"That was really a culmination of what I'd like to think North Hall baseball is," Trent Mongero said.
The Trojans will take on the winner of the Locust Grove/Crisp County series, which will be decided on Saturday after the teams split their Friday doubleheader.
GAME 1: North Hall 5, Carrollton 3
Olson helped get the Trojans off to a strong start, going 6 innings while scattering eight hits in the start. The North Hall hurler crucially pitched out of a bases-loaded jam while giving up just one run -- aided by a gutsy catch in centerfield from Drew Atha, who slammed into the outfield wall while snaring the ball to end the inning.
Atha also got the save in pitching the seventh inning and provided two RBI on sacrifice fly outs from the plate.
Mongero set the pace for North Hall's offense, going 3 for 4, including a double and three runs scored. Brooks also provided an RBI sac fly and a double.
The Trojans responded to a 1-0 deficit after the top of the first with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. They added another in the third for a 4-1 lead and another in the fifth to make it 5-1 before the visitors found a response.
North Hall finished the contest with seven hits.
GAME 2: North Hall 10, Carrollton 1
Mongero kept up his hot play, going 2 for 2 with a double and a run scored, as the Trojans took an early lead and inched ahead 2-0 in the fourth. Carrollton responded to halve North Hall's advantage in the fifth -- only to watch the Trojans explode for eight runs in the sixth, pulling away for good.
Brooks touched up Carrollton pitching, going 3 for 3 with a double, RBI and a walk. In fact, North Hall's offense feasted, racking up 11 hits while Carrollton managed four errors to hurt their own cause.
Trojans starter Corbin Meeler allowed seven hits but proved more than comfortable pitching out of jams, striking out 11 batters while yielding just one run -- a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth -- in a complete game effort.
Meanwhile, North Hall also got a strong performance from John Mark Montgomery, who finished 2 for 4 with a double, while Jackson Latty and Charlie Erickson each ripped doubles and provided one RBI apiece. Clark Hill also had a hit and two RBI, as the Trojans stormed to the sweep.
