GAINESVILLE -- Despite the Trojans' business-like approach Wednesday in the second round of the Class AAA state playoffs, the historic implications of North Hall's two-game sweep over Franklin County could not be taken lightly.
The Trojans' 10-0 and 8-0 wins over the Lions moved them into the quarterfinal round for the first time in program history. (EDITOR'S NOTE: The sweep was the high point of a mixed night for area teams on Wednesday. For a full look at scores and series schedules, scroll down.)
"It's something we talked about. It hadn't been done in 53 years and we feel proud to be able to get here," North Hall coach Trent Mongero said. "But we don't want to stop here. We're going to try and keep it going."
Senior Griffin Olson said it was a goal they talked about achieving earlier in the season.
"We knew coming into the year no North Hall team had made it to the third round and it's something we wanted to do," Olson said. "We have great coaches and great senior leadership. If we keep playing like this we feel like we have a chance to win it all."
The Trojans (28-2) will now look to keep making history as they look toward a quarterfinal battle with Pierce County, which swept past Swainsboro on Wednesday. The series is slated to begin next Tuesday with a doubleheader in Blackshear. Game 3, if necessary, would be Wednesday.
Pitching again was the key for the Trojans, who got a complete-game, three-hitter from Preston Graham in Game 1 followed by a four-hit, no runs effort in six innings from Colton Duttweiler. Adam Kelly pitched the final inning of Game 2 for North Hall allowing one hit and striking out one in his first action in two weeks.
"What I think makes us a good team is that we are doing all the things we need to do to win," Mongero said. "We like pitching our left-handers because it slows down the other teams' running game."
But the series victory was marred by a bench-clearing fight in the fifth inning of Game 2. A hard slide by Franklin County's Drew Davis into North Hall shortstop Andrew Smith to try and break up a double play ended with the two exchanging words and then Davis pushing Smith. That ignited both benches clearing that resulted in the Lions' Wesley Waters punching Smith and both being ejected.
It could prove costly for North Hall, which will have to play the next two games without its lead-off hitter and defensive leader. Smith finished the series with four hits, two RBI, and scored twice while also helping turn three double plays in the two games.
"We'll appeal it to the GHSA and see what happens," Mongero said. "He's a big part of our team but we also feel like we have a lot of depth. If we have to go without him we're still a good team."
In Game 1, it started as pitcher's duel between Graham and Franklin County's Brent Honeywell as both pitched scoreless first innings. But the Trojans were able to breakthrough early. After leaving two runners on the first, North Hall would mount a two-out rally in the second.
McCoy Savage walked and then moved to third on an error on a grounder hit by Graham. Smith would walk to load the bases and then Zach Mize drilled the first pitch he saw for a two-run single to center and a 2-0 lead.
North Hall added a run in the fourth on a RBI double from Smith, driving in Savage, who had doubled to lead off the inning.
It stayed that way until the sixth when the Trojans exploded for seven runs on eight hits to invoke the Mercy Rule.
Graham got it started with a one-out, two-run home run and Olson, Duttweiler, Lincoln Hewett, and Stephen Murray all followed with RBI singles. Hewett would score the clincher on a wild pitch.
Honeywell ran out of gas in the sixth and would get charged with five earned runs on 10 hits while fanning five
In Game 2, North Hall again jumped out to the early lead. The Trojans went ahead 1-0 after Hewett laced a two-out single to center and, after moving to third on two wild pitches by Jesse Thomas, scored on an error by the Lions' second baseman.
The Trojans added three runs in the third, with RBI singles by Duttweiler and Hewett. They increased it 6-0 in the fourth and 8-0 in the sixth as Hewett added another RBI hit and Adam Kelly would score on a wild pitch.
Olson and Hewett each would finish with four hits in the series. Mize, Duttweiler, and Kelly each had three hits for the Trojans. Drew Coker had one hit in the second game for North Hall.
NOTES: North Hall ran its win streak to 17 with the victories Tuesday. They have now allowed just 15 runs in that span with eight shutouts, including seven of the last nine games...North Hall erased recent memories of losing in the second round. The Trojans lost to Blessed Trinity in second round in 2006 and Oconee County in 2005...Franklin County was also looking for its first-ever berth in the quarterfinals. It was only the second trip to the second round for the Lions in program history.
SECOND ROUND STATE PLAYOFF BASEBALL RESULTS, SCHEDULE:
Wednesday
Class AAA
North Hall sweeps Franklin County -- 10-0, 8-0
Class AA
Jefferson splits with Wesleyan -- 8-3, 6-7
Westminster sweeps Rabun County -- 10-1, 10-1
Thursday
Class AAAAA
Doubleheader: Creekview at Gainesville, 4 p.m. -- Radio: 1240 AM
Class AAAA
Doubleheader: Stephens County at Northwest Whitfield
Class AAA
Game 3: Wesleyan at Jefferson, 5 p.m.
Doubleheader: Union County at Pepperell
Friday
February 7th, 2025
11:18PM
