OAKWOOD — West Hall stayed perfect in Region 7-3A play after holding off Class 3A No. 4 Cherokee Bluff, 2-1, on Monday at Spartans Field in the first of a key three-game series.
The Spartans (11-3, 4-0 Region 7-3A) rallied from a 1-0 deficit with single runs in the fifth and sixth. That was enough for Braden Simms.
Simms went the distance scattering three hits and allowing just a second-inning RBI single from Caleb Miele driving in Caleb Piland. Simms struck out seven and walked three.
The Bears’ Clay Tyas was tough early yielding just four hits and no runs in four innings. Tyler Zawacki followed allowing just one hit in 1 2/3 but ended taking the loss giving up a pair of unearned runs.
Kyle Murphy had three hits and an RBI to lead West Hall. Simms, Ryan Svetz, and Will Brannon had one hit each for the Spartans. Miele, Piland and Jacob Vokal all had one hit apiece for Cherokee Bluff (8-4, 0-1 Region 7-3A).
The two teams are scheduled to resume their series on Wednesday at Cherokee Bluff, weather permitting.
JEFFERSON 4-9,
CHESTATEE 0-0
Class 4A No. 6 Jefferson took an impressive doubleheader sweep over the War Eagles in Gainesville on Monday in Region 8-4A action.
In the first game, Rem Maxwell tossed a no-hitter with 15 strikeouts in the win. The Dragons (10-4, 5-0 Region 8-4A) scored twice in the first and two more in the fifth against Chestatee’s Mattox Miller, who went five innings allowing just five hits and fanning six.
Maxwell and Jase People each had RBI hits in the opening frame. Jefferson plated two more in the fifth on an error and a Cole Watkins single.
People and Watkins each had two of the Dragons' six hits.
In the second game, Jefferson blew open a scoreless game with five runs in the third and four more in the fourth. All but one batter got a hit for the Dragons, led by J.J. Rapp and Landon Richards, who each had two RBI.
Rapp and Matthew Perrin each had two hits and Nick Sellers, Brandon Cliinton, Maxwell, People, Jake Walker, and Richards all had one hit for the Dragons.
Nolan Turner had two hits for Chestatee (6-9, 0-5 Region 8-4A).
Landers went the distance for Jefferson allowing just the two hits and striking out nine.
JACKSON COUNTY 3,
APALACHEE 2
The Panthers opened their Region 8-5A schedule with a come-from-behind win at home.
Apalachee (8-5, 0-1 Region 8-5A) grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the first but Jackson County (12-3, 1-0 Region 8-5A) answered with three runs in the second on a three-run double from Phillip Glander.
The Wildcats pulled within 3-2 in the third but could get no closer as Kedric Zimmer allowed just one base runner over the final four innings. Zimmer allowed just two runs and fanned four to get the complete-game win.
The two teams will resume their series on Wednesday in Bethlehem, weather permitting.
NORTH FORSYTH 11,
GAINESVILLE 1
The Raiders (8-7, 1-3 Region 6-7A) evened their season with the Red Elephants with a big win in six innings at Raiders Field.
However, the Red Elephants (4-8, 1-3 Region 6-7A) led 1-0 early on a Jahleel Rivas-Dicks RBI in the second inning. But GHS starter Anthony Lugo could not hold it.
North Forsyth plated a pair of runs in the third and knocked Lugo out of the game in the fourth. The Raiders exploded for three runs each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to put the game away.
Justin Ruiz, Ethan Payne, Baxter Wright had the three Gainesville hits. Jahleel Rivas-Dicks had the lone RBI for the Red Elephants.
Michael Sills had two hits and three RBI and Tyler Triche had three hits and an RBI to lead the Raiders' offense. Brett Barfield went the distance scattering three hits and fanning 10 to get the win.
Gainesville is off until next Monday when its plays host to South Forsyth in another Region 6-7A showdown.
MADISON COUNTY 7,
EAST HALL 0
The Vikings are still looking for their first win of the season after falling to the Raiders on the road to open a Region 8-4A series.
Madison County (2-12, 1-3 Region 8-4A) scored five runs in the bottom of the first to take a quick lead. The big blow was a three-run double from Ben Bray. The Raiders added single runs in the second and third.
Stephen Brooks went the distance for Madison giving up just three hits and fanning five.
Christian McCullough had two hits and Alex Brock one for East Hall.
Carter Gillespie started for the Vikings (0-9, 0-1 Region 8-4A) and went six innings allowing seven runs (six earned) while fanning two.
BUFORD 15,
HABERSHAM CENTRAL 0 4 inn
Connor Sampers tossed a four-inning no-hitter to lead Class 6A No. 1 Buford to a Region 8-6A win at home.
The Wolves (14-0, 7-0 Region 8-6A) scored four runs in each of the first two innings and put the game away with a seven-run fourth.
The Buford offense roughed up four Raiders (6-6, 5-2 Region 8-6A) pitchers. Hunter Tatum, Will Roberts, Azzi Cervantes, and Sutton Dover all gave up runs and none lasted more than one inning.
Meanwhile, Jackson Gaspard had two hits to lead a nine-hit attack for the Wolves. Treyton Bank, Brant Baughcam, Nate Smith, Riley Stanford, Dylan Lesko, Stan Zagrodnik, and Sampers all had one hit for Buford.
The two teams will resume their series on Wednesday in Mt. Airy.
TOWNS COUNTY 11,
COPPER BASIN, TN 1
The Indians scattered 11 runs through six innings to beat Copper Basin on the road Monday.
Towns blew the game open in the third inning, scoring four runs to take a 6-0 advantage. After M Yeomans walked with the bases loaded scoring Caleb Berrong and giving the Indians a 3-0 lead, Kade McConnell followed with a three-run double to right field.
Berrong was 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI to pace the Indians, while McConnell was 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
AREA BASEBALL SCORES FOR Monday, March 15
Buford 15, Habersham Central 0*
Jackson County 3, Apalachee 2*
Jefferson 4-9, Chestatee 0-0 (DH)*
Madison County 7, East Hall 0*
North Forsyth 11, Gainesville 1
North Hall 17, Lumpkin County 3*
The Weber School 4, Lakeview Academy 2*
Towns County 11, Copper Basin 1
Union County 8, Gilmer 5
Walnut Grove 10, Johnson 0*
West Hall 2, Cherokee Bluff 1
White County 12, Dawson County 2*
AREA BASEBALL SCHEDULE FOR Tuesday, March 16
East Jackson at Oconee County*
Elbert County at Union County, 5:30 p.m.*
Rabun County at Rabun Gap, 6 p.m.
Flowery Branch at Pepperell, 5 p.m.
(* -- denotes region contest)
