FLOWERY BRANCH -- The opener for Flowery Branch was everything first-year coach Scott Myers hoped it would be and more.
The Falcons won his debut beating Riverside Military Academy, 13-3, in six innings, got good pitching from three hurlers, and showed off their running game with four stolen bases, forcing several Riverside throwing errors that led to eight unearned runs. The only blemish was four errors, most coming on errant pickoff attempts of their own.
"A win is a win," said Myers, who took over for Jimmy Lawler, who stepped down last year after eight seasons at the helm for Flowery Branch. "I thought we did some good things but we have to play better defense once we get to region (8-AAAA). We have a lot team speed and I was glad to see us run a lot."
Starter Grant Davis pitched three scoreless innings allowing just one hit and no runs while fanning two. C.J. Navin pitched two innings and Andrew Weekley closed out the final inning allowing no runs and no hits. They fanned five and walked just one combined.
"I was pleased with how all three of them threw the ball," Myers said. "We threw strikes and didn't put guys on base. Overall, it was a good start to the season."
Chase Hulsey sparked the offense with three hits and two RBI. Brody Thomas had two hits and one RBI and Navin scored three times from the leadoff spot. Taylor James had a big two-run double in a game-clinching seven-run sixth inning and Andrew Laur drove in James to seal the win. Breck Davidson and Jesse Brookshire had one hit each for Flowery Branch.
Riverside's Jacob Harrison went six innings allowing 10 hits and walked three. He fanned four and allowed just three earned runs as his defense let him down with nine errors in the game. At the plate for the Eagles (0-1) Stephen Wechsler had two hits. Anfernee Seymour, Max Weiner, and Mason Pope each had one hit for Riverside.
The Falcons jumped on Riverside in the bottom of the first inning. Flowery Branch took advantage of two errors and on outfield miscue to score two runs. Navin walked, stole second, and then scored on an error as he tried to steal third. Logan Conley would reach on the next pitch on a an error and then score on a RBI triple by Davidson that was lost in the sun by a Riverside outfielder.
The Falcons added two more in the second when Thomas singled with two out and then scored on two throwing errors on an errant pickoff attempt. Navin would walk again, move to third on a stolen base and wild pitch, and then score on a RBI single from Hulsey.
Riverside cut the lead to 4-2 in the fourth when Seymour singled, moved to second on a walk to Weiner, and then scored from second on an errant pickoff attempt. Weiner would score on an infield single by Pope.
The Eagles then trimmed it to 4-3 in the fifth when Weiner singled in Rhett Longmire. Weiner was thrown out at second on the play for the final out of the inning trying to stretch it to a double.
The Falcons answered right back with two runs in the fifth on two hits and two stolen bases. They blew the game open with seven runs in the sixth.
Saturday
February 1st, 2025
4:59AM
