GAINESVILLE — Collier Scott's Game 1 pitching performance helped ensure that Gainesville baseball enters Saturday with a chance to move on in its first round Class 6A state playoff series with Cambridge.
Scott notched his 20th career win, moving into 10th all-time for career victories, as the Red Elephants fought back to knock off the Bears 4-3 in Game 1.
Cambridge returned the favor in Game 2, however, pushing the best-of-three series to a deciding Game 3 with a 7-5 win at Ivey-Watson Field.
"Both games we competed and battled; we're two pretty evenly-matched teams," Gainesville coach Jeremy Kemp said. "The toughest team will this tomorrow."
The two programs will settle things at noon Saturday at Ivey-Watson.
"We've got the advantage; we're at home, and even though we lost the coin toss (for which team is "home" on the scoreboard), we need to make the most of being here," Kemp said.
Gainesville would love another pitching performance like Scott's in Game 1, as he struck out 8 and helped the Red Elephants to hang tough before pulling ahead in the bottom of the sixth.
"He's special," Kemp said of Scott. "His resume is unbelievable, and he's been huge in the playoffs. I'm proud of him; that's a lot of wins and to do that somewhere like Gainesville with all it's rich history is just special."
Gainesville pitchers must be wary of the Bears line-up, which racked up 18 hits in two games, including 5 hits for Teddy Egan and 4 for Chase Durham.
"They're a good hitting team, and we have to keep the ball down and under control a bit more," Kemp said.
Similarly Cambridge will keep an eye on Banks Griffith, who provided 4 hits, 2 doubles and 2 RBI -- though seven different Red Elephants notched hits in the doubleheader.
GAME 1: GAINESVILLE 4, CAMBRIDGE 3
It did not come easy, but it proved exciting, as the Red Elephants fought back from 3-1 down, scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead for good. Scott joined a list that includes former GHS stars Cris Carpenter and Micah Owings with the win, inducing a 6-3-6 double play to end the game. His work on the base paths also produced a key moment -- though it was far from routine.
Griffith played a key role for the Red Elephants at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI. Griffith's double to left center field tied the contest at 1-1 in the bottom of the third. The senior shortstop also drove in a run in the bottom of the sixth, ripping an RBI single that scored pinch runner Grady Vardeman to make it 3-2.
With the bases loaded and one out on the board, Scott ripped a shot directly at Cambridge third baseman Cody Rech, who tossed the ball to catcher Teddy Egan for the force at home. But Egan's throw to double off Scott at first caromed off the base-runner's back and into foul territory, allowing Clay Coffey and Cameron Wilson to score. Thanks to Scott's form on the mound -- and a strong defense behind him -- it was more than enough to seal the comeback.
Jared Smith also finished 2-for-3 for Gainesville, while Coffey singled and scored 2 runs.
Egan went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Cambridge, while Chase Durham also finished 2-for-3 with a two-run triple that put the Bears ahead 3-1 in the fourth.
GAME 2: CAMBRIDGE 7, GAINESVILLE 5
The Bears pounced in the first inning, as Cody Rech crushed a three-run home run in the bottom half for a 3-0 lead.
The Red Elephants responded in the top of the third, as Jackson Kemp and Cale Conley each cracked RBI singles to pull within 3-2.
Yet Cambridge cranked another home run, as Mitch Fleming lofted a solo shot to make it 4-2 in bottom of the third. The Red Elephants responded with a sacrifice fly RBI from Scott to stay within a run -- only to watch Cambridge pull away with three runs in the fourth.
The Bears came up with three straight singles, two in a row in the infield, before Ryan Todd drove in one run and Egan smacked a two-run double. Gainesville refused to go quietly, however, as Jared Smith and Kemp drove in runs in the sixth to pull within 7-5. Yet the Red Elephants produced three consecutive groundouts in the seventh to seal Game 3.
Kyle York pitched a complete game in the loss for Gainesville, yielding 11 hits.
Cambridge used two pitchers behind starter Casey Young (3 2/3 IP, 3R, 3H, 4K, 7BB) and reliever Evan Pollifrane (3 1/3 IP, 2R, 1H), who held up for the win despite yielding 10 walks combined.
