JEFFERSON — Jackson County used an 11-run fifth inning to rally for a 17-8 win over Athens Christian on Tuesday at Panthers Park.
It was the eighth straight win for the Panthers (10-3) who trailed 7-1 after three innings.
The two teams will complete a home-and-home series on Friday in Athens.
ELBERT COUNTY 15,
RIVERSIDE MILITARY 0
The Blue Devils held the Eagles to just one hit en route to the three-inning win in the Region 8-2A opener on the road.
Ruben Barahona smashed the lone Riverside hit to centerfield in the bottom of the first inning.
Elbert County blew the game wide open in the first inning, scoring eight runs, the first two of which were on Riverside errors. Branson Mills pushed the Blue Devil lead to 5-o with a double to centerfield, scoring Skylar Bray and Caden Brown. Trusten Allen capped the scoring blitz with a triple to centerfield that scored Mills.
The Blue Devils scored one run in the second and eight in the third inning to enforce the run rule.
Austin Duck earned the win on the mound for the Blue Devils, allowing one hit and two strikeouts in two innings of work. Clay Conrad pitched the third inning, allowing no hits and struck out three.
COMMERCE 19,
GREENE COUNTY 0
A monster 14-run first inning set the tone for the Tigers as they blew past Greene County, 19-0, in three innings on Tuesday at home.
Nate Rainey and Tyler Herring combined to no-hit Greene County. Rainey picked up the win on the hill, going two innings and striking out five, while Herring struck out three in one inning of work.
Cayden Lord, Will Slater, Kane Goldman, Gray Holbrook, Coleson Smith and Clay Freeman all drove in two runs each, while Slater was 2-for-2 on the night.
BANKS COUNTY 6,
RABUN COUNTY 2
The sixth-ranked Leopards found some offense in the fourth inning to rally past Region 8-2A foe Rabun County at home on Tuesday.
The Wildcats grabbed the lead in the second inning, 2-1 when Keilin Sanders reached on an error and Ciioer Welch scored.
But the Leopards with two outs in the fourth inning found some offense after Jonathan Moon was hit by a Linkin Wright pitch to set up Cade Herrin on the next at-bat. Herrin ripped a line drive triple to left field to push Moon across home plate to tie the game, 2-2.
Wyatt Whitfield was hit by a pitch on the next at-bat, and Carter Stroud -- courtesy runner for Herrin -- stole home during Ty Burchett's plate appearance. Burchett ended the inning on a ground out to first base.
Banks County added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth -- Moon singled to scored Nolan Angel, who singled to start the inning, Moon later scored when he stole home and Bruchett added the sixth run on an error.
Bruchett picked up the win on the mound allowing two runs on five hits and seven strikeouts through five innings of work.
FRANKLIN COUNTY 11,
UNION COUNTY 1
Franklin County scattered 11 runs over four innings to ease past Union County at home on Tuesday.
The Lions took a commanding lead in the fourth inning, scoring five runs to push ahead, 10-1. B Halbrook, E Herring and G Garner all scored on errors in the five-run inning for the Lions.
The Panthers' only run came in the fourth inning when T Dyer, who singled to start the inning and advanced to third off two straight passed balls, scored off a fielder's choice.
KING'S RIDGE 5,
LAKEVIEW 1
The Tigers scored three runs in the first inning to set the pace and grab the win over Lakeview at home on Tuesday.
It's King's Ridge's second straight win over Lakeview since Friday.
The Tigers started the first inning with a strikeout, then Nate Kittrede singled to left field on the next at-bat, followed by a flyout and a walk. With two runners one, Kittredge and John Bowling scored on the next play, a Lakeview error, to go up, 2-0. King's Ridge added another run on a wild pitch, scoring Owen Adkin.
The Tigers added two more runs, one in the fourth and one in the sixth inning.
Lakeview scored its run on a Tanner Allen double to right field that scored Jesse Whitting, who doubled earlier in the inning. The Lions left 10 men on base.
Charlie Jones was the winning pitcher, allowing three hits while striking out six in five innings. Allen
AREA BASEBALL SCOREBOARD FOR Tuesday, March 9
Jackson County 17, Athens Christian 8
Elbert County 15, Riverside Military Academy 0*
Commerce 19, Greene County 0*
Banks County 6, Rabun County 2*
Franklin County 11, Union County 1
King's Ridge 5, Lakeview Academy 1*
AREA BASEBALL SCHEDULE FOR Wednesday, March 10
(Games listed by visiting team in alphabetical order)
(Area teams highlighted in bold)
(Games begin at 5:55 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Dawson County at West Hall*
East Hall at Cherokee Bluff
Flowery Branch at Cedar Shoals*
Gainesville at Lambert, 6:15 p.m.*
Habersham Central at Central Gwinnett*
Lanier at Buford*
Madison County at Jefferson*
North Hall at Gilmer*
North Oconee at Chestatee*
Tallulah Falls at East Jackson, 5:30 p.m.
White County at Lumpkin County, 5:30 p.m.*
