GAINESVILLE — Chestatee was looking to make history.
White County was looking to keep its season alive.
The Warriors executed their plan while thwarting the War Eagles with an 8-2 victory Tuesday at War Eagles Field in the first of a crucial three-game series that could decide the final playoff berth in Region 7-AAAA.
Chestatee (9-16, 2-8 Region 7-AAAA) came in needing just one victory to clinch its first-ever playoff berth in program history. White County (4-17, 2-5) came in needing a sweep of the series to advance. The two teams trail third-place West Hall by a game.
Senior Jay Taylor led the Warriors charge tossing a complete game and yielding just the two runs while scattering 11 hits and wiggling out of trouble several times by getting the War Eagles to strand nine base runners and go just 2-for-9 with runners-in-scoring-position.
Taylor also added two hits, two RBI, and scored two runs to help White County offense. It was the Warriors first road win of the season.
“Jay had great day for us,” White County coach Josh Bartlett said. “It was a big win for us. But we still need to just keep winning.”
The series now will move to Cleveland on Friday for a doubleheader.
It was a tough loss for the War Eagles, who fell into last place behind White County by percentage points. They committed three errors that led to two unearned runs and several other missed opportunities helped the Warriors extend two big innings.
With the War Eagles perhaps knowing they needed just one win to clinch, did Chestatee coach Jon Brewer think maybe they felt some pre-game nerves?
“We never really discussed that (before the game) but they played a little tight and came out flat so you never know,” he said. “But they know what they need to do. They just need to find a way to win games.”
Brewer said they need to head to Cleveland and get back to the little things that helped them sweep a doubleheader over West Hall nearly three weeks ago.
“We pitched well and didn’t make any mistakes and got some timely hits,” he said. “Getting a quick start would be huge for us.”
Both teams got their leadoff batters on in the first with hits but could not break through. The War Eagles put runners at the corners with two out in the first but Taylor got Will Cantrell to ground out back to the mound keep the game scoreless.
White County broke through in the second against Cantrell taking advantage of two Chestatee errors for a 1-0 lead. Weston Bray reached on a fielder’s choice but moved to third on a stolen base and an error and then scored when when War Eagles’ catcher Micah Flanagan had the ball dislodged while trying to tag Bray at the plate.
Chestatee got a hit from Austin Sargent to begin the second but he was left at second as the War Eagles stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the first two innings.
The Warriors added on in the third as Dylan Ward, Taylor, and Cameron Sosebee all singled with no outs driving in Ward. Cameron Robinson followed with a sacrifice fly scoring Taylor and Sosebee scored on another Chestatee error for a 4-0 advantage.
The War Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the fourth on three hits, including a RBI double by Cantrell scoring Cooper Wilson. But they left runners stranded at second and third with a chance to pull closer.
Cade Brady and then Braxton Nicholson both came on for Chestatee in the fourth to relieve Cantrell, who went three innings allowing four runs -- just two earned -- on five hits and he struck out two. Neither fared much better. White County added three more on a two-run double by Taylor, who later scored on a wild pitch to for a 7-1 lead.
Chestatee tried to mount a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth when Wilson doubled in Sean Irick to trim the lead to 7-2. But Reggie James grounded out to end the inning with two more runners in scoring position. The War Eagles left six runners in scoring position despite nine hits through the first four innings.
The Warriors plated a run in the sixth to push it back to 8-2.
Taylor did not let the War Eagles mount any late rallies retiring the final five and 10 of the last 12 Chestatee batters.
