DAWSONVILLE — Dawson County wasted little time in taking any and all drama whatsoever out of its season-finale, doubleheader showdown with rival Lumpkin County.
The Tigers, who needed just one win to clinch second place in Region 7-AAA, jumped all over the Indians in the first game taking a 13-3 victory in six innings behind a four home run explosion in the first three innings.
Playoff implications for four teams in in the region rested on Friday’s outcome. Dawson County and West Hall were battling for second while Lumpkin County was trying to hold off a surging Banks County for the fourth spot. Franklin County had already clinched the region title last week.
“This was a big game for a lot of teams,” Dawson County coach Dwayne Sapp said. “Right now we’re swinging the bats well and that’s how we’re going to have to win (in the playoffs). I couldn’t be more proud for these guys.”
The Indians, who needed one win to claim the final playoff spot, had a chance to salvage their season but fell behind 3-0 quickly in the second game before lightning and rain halted the action for nearly two hours. When play resumed, Dawson County completed the sweep with a 10-0 win in Game 2.
The wins for the Tigers (19-7, 13-5 Region 7-AAA) clinched the No. 2 seed from 7-AAA and dropped West Hall into the No. 3 spot. The losses for Lumpkin County (11-14, 6-12) eliminated the Indians from playoff contention. Banks County (10-15, 7-11) slipped into fourth after winning 4 of its last 6 games down the stretch.
Game 1: Dawson County 13, Lumpkin County 3, 6 innings
Lumpkin County struck early off Tigers starter Conner Bearden plating an unearned run on two hits and one Dawson County error in the top of the first. They had a chance to break things open but left two runners in scoring position.
The Tigers answered right back playing long ball. They belted three home runs -- a two-run home run from Austin Young and solo shots from Brody Chester and Brise Henson -- for a 4-1 lead.
The barrage continued in the second with Tucker Maxwell driving in a run on a single and then Young added a sacrifice scoring a run and another run scored on a throwing error to push the lead to 7-1.
Kohlton Brumbelow put things out of reach in the third with a grand slam to left to give the Tigers a 12-1 lead.
It stayed that way until the fifth. Lumpkin’s Wil Pence smacked a RBI single with the bases loaded and the Indians added an unearned run on an error to cut the lead to 12-3 to keep things alive for another inning.
The Tigers ended it in the bottom of the sixth when Maxwell doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Chester for the winning run.
Bearden got the win for Dawson County going 5 2/3 innings striking out six and allowing just two earned runs.
Sapp said the Tigers will live and die in the playoffs with their offense.
“We don’t have the dominant arms you typically need to make a deep run in the playoffs,” he said. “But, we have an offense that can swing the bats and put some runs up. We just need to pitch well enough to keep us in games. I think we can do that.”
It will not be an easy road for the Tigers. They will open the playoffs against Region 6-AAA No. 3 seed Adairsville at home next Friday. No. 8 Westside-Augusta most likely would await in the second round.
“We have a tough draw,” Sapp said. “Adairsville is a tough three seed. Westside has two dominant guys on the mound. But, if we can keep the bats going anything is possible.”
