JEFFERSON — Jefferson maintained its two-game lead in Region 8-4A with a solid 8-1 win over Oconee County Wednesday night at home.
Brandon Trefren picked up the win for the Dragons (14-6, 7-1 Region 8-4A) scattering three hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out five.
Justin Cole, Ryan Godfrey, and Billy Finch combined for six hits and four RBI to lead a 10-hit Jefferson attack. The Dragons scored in all but two innings and led 6-0 before Oconee County scored its only run in the sixth.
The two teams will close their three-game series on Friday in Watkinsville.
GAINESVILLE 5
LANIER 4
The Red Elephants held off a furious seventh inning rally by the Longhorns to keep their win streak in tact and clinch another Region 8-6A series at Ivey-Watson.
Gainesville led 1-0 after the first inning and then extended its lead to 5-0 after a four-run fifth inning, capped by a three-run double from Charlie Wall.
Meanwhile, Kyle York was cruising on the mound taking a shutout into the seventh inning. York got two outs in the seventh but ran into as Lanier's Jadyn Jackson belted a two-run home run as part of a four-run inning.
Jay Hinshaw came in for Gainesville and gave up one hit to put the go-ahead run at the plate but he was able to get the final out to record the save and preserve the win.
York finished with seven strikeouts and walked none in 6 2/3 innings.
With the victory Gainesville (15-6, 6-2 Region 8-6A) kept pace with Winder-Barrow atop the region standings. However, the Bulldoggs took 2 of 3 from the Red Elephants earlier in the season and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Lanier (14-9, 5-3) came into the series alone in first place but fell to third with the loss one game behind both the Red Elephants and Winder-Barrow. The two teams will close out their series on Friday in Sugar Hill.
WEST HALL 18
DAWSON COUNTY 8
The Spartans pounded out 21 hits, including a three-run home run in the first inning from Dylan Simpson, as part of their second-highest scoring game of the season in a six-inning contest. West Hall scored 22 in a win over Berkmar early in the season.
West Hall led 4-2 after the first inning but extended it to 10-2 by the third inning. The Spartans led 18-5 in the sixth before the Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of the inning.
All nine West Hall starters had at least one hit, with Cameron Shirley banging out four hits and three RBI and he scored three times. Carter Lott, Jeffrey Jenkins, and Clayton Jenkins all had three hits for West Hall, which sent 44 batters to the plate in the six innings. Lott and Gabe Allison also knocked three runs each for the Spartans.
It was the ninth straight win for the Spartans (16-4) who are off until jumping back into Region 7-4A play next Tuesday against defending state champion Marist on the road.
Simpson also got the win for West Hall giving up eight runs on 14 hits. He walked three and struck out six.
CHESTATEE 7
ELCA 6
Chestatee won for the third tme in four games after taking a slim victory at home.
Joe Sutton belted a grand slam for the War Egales (12-10) while Will Cantrell got the save tossing two scoreless innings.
The War Eagles are off until opening a three-game series at home on Tuesday against Class 4A No. 1 Blessed Trinity in a key Region 7-4A battle.
