ZEBULON, Ga. — If North Hall could take two innings back in the doubleheader against Pike County on Monday, they would in a heartbeat.
The Pirates (34-5) scored four runs in the fifth inning in Game 1 and eight runs in Game 2 to complete the sweep of the Class 3A defending champs in the semifinals of the playoffs.
In Game 1, the Trojans held on to a 2-0 lead before Pike County sent eight batters to the plate resulting in three singles, one error, one walk, a ground out, a sacrifice fly and a fielder's choice, resulting in four runs and a 5-2 lead.
The top-ranked Trojans (32-7) had one hit over the next two innings, including a 1-2-3 top of the seventh inning.
But it wasn't all bad as the Trojans took a 2-0 lead in the third inning off a Jace Bowen 2-RBI single., scoring Ajay Jones, who doubled on the prior at-bat, and Tate Brooks, who was hit by a pitch.
Mason Trucks didn't make it easy on the Trojans, going six innings with nine strikeouts. He only surrendered two runs on three hits, while walking three.
In Game 2, the Pirates exploded for eight runs in the opening inning that saw 13 batters in the box, including a grand slam from Ridge Smith.
The Pirates recorded six hits in the inning and reached base three times on a hit by a pitch.
The inning turned out to be the knock-out punch to the Trojans, who could only muster two runs on a single from Jaret Bales that scored Bowen in the third, and a Luke Erickson single in the sixth to bring Bowen home as well.
Erickson led the Trojans with a 2-for-3 day at the plate.
METTER 11-5,
COMMERCE 4-0
Metter (29-5) slowly built a lead in both games to sweep Commerce, 11-4 and 5-0, in the semifinals of the Class A Public playoffs on Monday.
But in Game 1, Commerce (26-14) scored two runs in the opening inning to take a 2-0 lead off a two-run homer from Ryan Cooper.
Metter answered with a run in the bottom of the first, then scored nine straight runs to take control, 10-2.
As part of the Metter eruption, RJ Coney smashed a three-run homer in the second inning.
Commerce added two runs in the sixth inning.
Brayton Purcell went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead Commerce at the plate
In Game 2, Better scattered five runs over six innings to take the win.
Rustan Rigdon kept Commerce chasing all day, surrendering six hits and recording 13 Ks to earn the win.
