GAINESVILLE -- Gainesville used an 11-run fifth inning to erase an early deficit en route to a 13-3, six-inning win over Sequoyah Wednesday at Ivey-Watson Field in Game 1 of their best-of-three second round Class AAAAA series.
Sims Griffith led the offensive attack with four hits and four RBI.
Michael Gettys threw a complete-game to get the victory for the Elephants.
Gainesville trailed 3-0 before exploding for nine hits to go with three walks in the pivotal inning. Brandon Sewell added a solo home run in the sixth for Gainesville.
In Buford, the Wolves, behind a 15-strikeout performance from Jake Higginbotham, opened their Class AAA second round series with a 7-0 win over St. Pius. The junior southpaw allowed just two hits and three base runners in the complete-game effort.
Austin Upshaw had two hits and four RBI to pace the Buford offense.
In Roswell, North Hall rallied from a 2-1 deficit to knock off Blessed Trinity 6-4 in the first game of their Class AAA second round series. Corbin Lewallen got the win and hit a home run for the Trojans.
Andrew Smith had three hits and got the save for North Hall in a rematch of last year's semifinals series.
In Dallas, Flowery Branch also got off to a good start knocking off North Paulding 6-3 in its Class AAAAA second round series.
All four series will start their second games approximately 30 minutes after the completion of Game 1.