BOGART — In a battle of top five teams, Class 4A No. 1 North Oconee used a five-run sixth inning to pull away for a 7-3 win over No. 4 Flowery Branch on Tuesday in Region 8-4A action.
The showdown also was for sole possession of first place in the region.
North Oconee (15-1, 7-0 Region 8-4A) opened with a pair of runs in the first off Falcons starter Riley Mitchell. Branch answered with a pair of runs in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly from David Miller and a RBI single by Austin Bourrie.
The Titans’ Andrew Arnold was nearly untouchable the rest of the way going six innings, allowing just the one hit and fanned five.
Mitchell went 4 1/3 innings for the Falcons (9-5, 3-1 Region 8-4A) allowing just two runs on two hits. But he walked six and struck out four.
Max Wagner took the loss allowing five runs on two hits and walked four for Flowery Branch. In the sixth, North Oconee coaxed four walks to go with three hits. the big blow being a three-run double from Justin Byrd for a 6-2 lead.
Jackson Freeman and Bourrie had the two hits for the Falcons.
PEACHTREE ACADEMY 6,
LANIER CHRISTIAN 1
Peachtree Academy scored four runs in the seventh inning to pull away for the win over the Lightning (4-4) on Tuesday.
LCA’s Gavin Strabala gave up just two hits while striking out three but took the loss.
Carter Raulerson, Isaac Dinn, Camden Hohman, and Barry Waymack all had hits, with Waymack driving in the Lightning’s only run.
LCA returns to action on Thursday at home against Covington Academy.
