DAWSONVILLE — Dawson County completed a sweep of Gilmer on Friday with a 12-1, five-inning rout of the Bobcats in Region 7-3A action.
The win for the Tigers (16-8, 11-4 Region 7-3A) coupled with Cherokee Bluff's 11-9 loss to North Hall on Friday, moved them into second place in the region standings.
But the Tigers had to come from behind after Gilmer plated a run in the top of the first. Dawson County answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning on a RBI single from Luke Mulberry and a two-run single from Andrew Burt.
Dawson County blew it open with six runs in the second, highlighted by a two-run home run from Nick Mullinax and three-run double by Elijah Odom. The Tigers invoked the Mercy rule with a run in the third and two in the fourth.
Mullinax earned the victory on the mound going five innings and allowing one run on seven hits while striking out six.
The Tigers next will take on No. 1 North Hall opening a three-game series in Dawsonville on Monday.
NORTH HALL 11,
CHEROKEE BLUFF 9
The No. 1-ranked Trojans battled back from a 9-0 deficit by scoring 11 runs in the final two innings to complete a sweep of the Bears in Region 7-3A action on Friday.
The win kept North Hall (20-4, 15-0 Region 7-3A) atop the region standings and extended its win streak to 15 straight. The loss for the Bears (17-7, 10-5 Region 7-3A) dropped them into third place in the region with six games left.
Cherokee Bluff broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the third and opened up an 8-0 lead in the fourth, highlighted by a three-run triple from Jacob Vokal. The Bears pushed the lead to 9-0 in the fifth on a Brett House home run, his second of the series.
But North Hall stormed back with nine runs in the fifth. Tate Brooks and Ajay Jones drilled back-to-back two-RBI doubles to pull the Trojans within 9-5 and Korbyn Sosebee later singled in Luke Erickson to tie the game.
In the bottom of the sixth, Erickson doubled in a pair of runs with two outs for the eventual game-winner.
Jaret Bales pitched a perfect seventh to get the save for North Hall.
Both starters struggled as the Trojans’ Landon Lee lasted just 3 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs on three hits, four walks, and he hit a batter. Bluff’s Caleb Piland went four innings allowing six runs on three hits and five walks. Lucas Tritt got the loss for the Bears surrendering five runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings.
Landon Davis went 2 1/3 for North Hall in relief of Lee allowing two runs on four hits before giving way to Bales in the seventh.
North Hall next will take on Dawson County in another battle atop the the 7-3A standings, opening a three-game series against the Tigers on Monday in Dawsonville.
Bluff will take on White County beginning on Monday in Flowery Branch.
NORTH OCONEE 10,
JEFFERSON 8
The Dragons could not hold an early 4-0 lead as the Titans rallied to finish a sweep in their three-game Region 8-4A series in Jefferson.
Jefferson (14-11, 9-6 Region 8-4A) dropped to fourth place in the region standings with the loss. The Dragons are off from region play until Monday, April 18 when they take on East Hall in their season finale.
Jefferson opened with three runs in the first on a three-run double from Owen Primm. They added a run in the second on a RBI single by Bowman Horn.
But the Titans cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the third and plated seven runs in the fourth, highlighted by a three-run home run from Justin Byrd and a two-run blast by Cale Stricklin for a 9-4 lead.
Jefferson pulled within 9-7 in the bottom of the fourth with three runs, including a solo home run by Primm.
But that’s as close as the Dragons could get.
Jefferson is off until traveling to Woodward Academy on Thursday.
