BLUE RIDGE — David Seavey set the tone for North Hall’s huge Region 7-3A potential title-deciding series against Fannin County Tuesday.
After the Trojans fell behind 3-0 on three unearned runs in the first two innings, the senior leftfielder smashed a third-inning grand slam to cap a five-run frame to propel the Trojans to a 10-3 win over the Rebels.
The win gives North Hall (14-9, 13-3 Region 7-3A) a 2 1/2-game lead over Fannin County (16-6, 9-4 Region 7-3A) and the series will move to Jody Davis Field on Friday for a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m.
The Trojans, who close out their region schedule on Friday, can clinch their second straight region title with one win in the doubleheader. The Rebels, however, are still alive for a region title if they sweep Friday’s doubleheader and then take 2-of-3 next week in their regular season finale against East Hall.
“A huge win for us,” North Hall coach Trevor Flow said. “We saw this series as an opportunity to have a playoff-caliber series before the playoffs. We played great after the second inning.
“David’s slam was huge. We had moved him down to the five spot. On that at-bat It looked like he had gotten hit by a pitch but it was called back. Then he hit the home run. That got us going.”
While Seavey provided the offensive spark, starter Jackson Dyer settled in after the first two innings. Dyer allowed six hits in 5 2/3 innings but only three after the second inning and struck out four.
“Jackson has been inconsistent this year but he had a solid start on Friday so we brought him back today to see if he could keep that momentum going,” Flow. “It was probably the best he has pitched this year. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Seavey’s blast gave North Hall a 5-3 lead but the Trojans added a run in the fourth on a Tate Brooks solo home run and blew the game open with a four-run sixth, getting three bases-loaded walks and a hit by pitch with the bases loaded for a 10-3 lead.
Tate Brooks finished with two hits while Tyler Brooks, Caleb Wiley, Seavey, and Dylan Wiley all had one hit for the Trojans.
Wes Tadman closed out the game on the mound giving up a hit and a walk in 1 1/3 innings.
