FLOWERY BRANCH – Cherokee Bluff's rally against Greater Atlanta Christian Thursday at home helped the Bears stay in the hunt for a playoff spot in Region 7-3A.
The Bears (13-12, 7-8) outscored the Spartans 5-3 in the final two innings to snag the win, 5-4, at home.
Bluff is one game behind GAC (12-10-1, 8-7) in the region standings with a big three-game series looming with Lumpkin County next week.
However, because GAC took two of three from the Bears, Bluff will need to win win the three-game series against the Indians next week.
As for the game Thursday afternoon, Jackson Kemp led the Bears comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning when he ripped a double on a 3-1 count. The hit scored Dylan Kautz and Tino Mukuno, giving the Bears the 5-3 lead.
The Spartans scored their final run off a Colin Helms double in the top of the sixth inning.
Chandler Shope earned the win allowing three runs on three hits with two strikeouts in one and two-thirds innings. James Mitchell threw one and one-third innings in relief out of the bullpen. Mitchell recorded the last four outs to earn the save for the Bears.
Carsen Plumadore started the game for Bluff. He went four innings, allowing one run on three hits.
DACULA 12,
GAINESVILLE 5
The Red Elephants found some offense in the top of the fifth inning but couldn't find enough as Dacula completed the three-game sweep Thursday night in Dacula.
The loss knocked the Red Elephants out of the playoffs for the first time in more than three decades.
Dacula outscored Gainesville 33-9 in the three games this week.
On Thursday, the Falcons took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first and extended it to 6-0 by the end of the fourth.
The Red Elephants offensive spark started in the top of the fifth when Cale Conley belted a three-run home run over the left field fence. The homer gave Gainesville some confidence, pulling within two runs, 6-4.
But, Dacula ended the game hot, going up 21-4 off three runs in the sixth and three in the sixth inning.
Gainesville's Harris Bell drove in Conley in the seventh inning for the Red Elephants final run of the game.
TALLULAH FALLS 10,
RIVERSIDE 6
Tallulah Falls early 6-0 lead set the tone for the game in the Indians four-run win over the Eagles.
Riverside scattered six runs across three innings to cut into the Indian lead, 8-6, but Tallulah falls added two runs in the seventh to go up 10-6.
Tyler Martin was 2-for-3 with one RBI to lead the Eagles.
Andrew Ross and Jack Butler added one RBI each.
MORGAN COUNTY 9,12,
EAST JACKSON 5, 2
Morgan County scored a combined eight runs in the first two innings in the first game of the Region 8-3A doubleheader against East Jackson at home Thursday.
Morgan (22-5, 15-0) scored 12 runs in the second game to complete the series sweep.
The wins keep Morgan perfect in region play and one game ahead of Jefferson with the massive three-game series for the region title against Jefferson next week.
In game one, Jarrett Pursley scored the Eagles first run off a double to left field that scored Halton Hardy. East Jackson scored its next three off a double and a balk by the pitcher.
The Eagles last run came in the seventh inning off a Jake Varner single to centerfield, scoring Hardy.
In game two, Morgan scored three runs in the first and third, four in the fourth and two in the fifth to run-rule the Eagles.
East Jackson scored one run in the first and fourth.
HEBRON CHRISTIAN 13,
COMMERCE 9
Commerce gave up 12 runs in two innings to blow a 4-1 lead in a loss to Hebron Christian Thursday on the road.
The Tigers took a 4-1 lead in the top of the second inning off a bases-loaded hit by pitch. Kody Mintz scored when Zach Kwiatkowski's pitch nailed Evan Davis.
Hebron found its groove in the bottom of the third, scoring five runs to take its first lead, 5-4. The extended the lead with a seven-run fourth inning.
Commerce put five more runs on the board in the seventh, but the 12 runs in two innings by Hebron was too much to overcome.
JOHNSON 10,
CEDAR SHOALS 0
Peyton Lavergne shut down Cedar Shoals on the mound Thursday night at home.
Lavergne held Cedar Shoals to one hit, no runs and eight strikeouts in five innings of work.
Offensively, the Knights were all about two-run innings in a shutout five-inning win.
Johnson scored two runs in the first, second and third innings. The Knights broke out of form scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to eventually run-rule Cedar Shoals in the fifth.
Dante Root drove in three runs and Peyton Lavergne had two RBIs to lead the Knights. James Lancaster had one RBI.
EAST HALL 7, 2,
DAWSON COUNTY 5,10
East Hall took game one of the doubleheader to take the series against Dawson County Thursday at home.
Dawson County found its offense in the second game to fight off the series sweep and pick up the region win.
In game one, East Hall broke the 1-1 tie and took the lead, 7-1 with a six-run fifth inning.
Dawson added four runs, one in the sixth and three in the seventh.
TJ Smith grabbed the win for the Vikings, allowing four runs off eight hits and three strikeouts in six and one-third innings. Zach Kinsey pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up one run on two hits.
In game two, an eight-run third inning gave the Tigers a comfortable 9-2 lead in the 10-2 win in game two.
Hudson Sapp led the Tigers at the plate with a 3-for-4, two RBI performance. TJ Allen also drove in two runs for the Tigers.
Cameron Moore picked up the win on the mound for the Tigers. He went six and one-thirds inning, giving up two hits and striking out seven.
JACKSON COUNTY 8, 16,
MONROE AREA 7, 8
Jackson County (9-16, 6-12 Region 8-3A) kept its playoff hopes alive with a doubleheader sweep on Thursday to complete a three-game sweep of the Hurricanes in their Region 8-3A finale on the road.
The three-game win streak by the Panthers snapped a 10-game losing streak.
