MT. AIRY, Ga. — North Forsyth stayed perfect in Region 8-6A play taking an impressive 9-3 road win over Habersham Central on Monday.
The Raiders (14-6, 9-0 Region 8-7A) started quickly getting a Brady Holbrook two-run double in the first inning to highlight a three-run frame. They added a run in the second on a Colin Seabold RBI triple to make it 4-0.
North Forsyth eventually led 9-0 before Habersham Central (11-8, 5-4 Region 8-6A) scored three runs in the seventh on an error and a two-run home run from Konner Burrell.
Andrew Elkhill got the win for North Forsyth giving up just five hits over five innings, striking out four.
Hunter Tatum took the loss for Habersham allowing seven runs on 10 hits in five innings.
The loss dropped Hab Central into fourth place in the region standings. Hab Central is off until playing host to Gainesville on April 7.
North Forsyth travels to Jackson County on Wednesday.
BUFORD 14,
CENTRAL GWINNETT 0 (5 inn)
The Wolves won their third straight Region 8-7A game with a blowout win at Gerald McQuaig Field on Monday in five innings.
Lane Mosley had a huge day driving in five runs, including a first inning grand slam to give Buford (7-10, 5-4 Region 8-7A) a quick 6-0 lead.
Nate Taylor and Jacob Nixon combined for a one-hitter with Taylor fanning 10 in three innings and Nixon three in his two innings.
Izaiah Delossantos had the Black Knights (5-11, 0-7 Region 8-7A) only hit, a single, in the fifth inning.
Buford pounded out 11 hits for the game. Ethan Murray and Cannon Goldin had three hits each and Drew Avant, and Mosley had two hits apiece for the Wolves.
The two teams will meet again in Lawrenceville on Wednesday to continue their three-game series.
CHEROKEE BLUFF 18,
EAST FORSYTH 7 (5 inn)
Bryce England smacked a pair of home runs, drove in five runs, and scored four times to lead the Class 3A No. 1-ranked Bears to a win in Region 8-4A North on Monday.
England singled in the first, homered in the second, and then singled and homered as part of a 10-run fourth inning to blow the game open.
Cherokee Bluff (18-0, 4-0 Region 8-4A North) looked like it was going to make quick work of the Broncos (12-7, 5-2 Region 8-4A North) jumping out to a 8-0 lead after the second inning. But East Forsyth rallied to within 8-7 scoring four in the second, powered by RBIs from Logan Pedretti, Blake Riley, Trey Farr, and Will Moffit, and three more in third.
But that would be as close as they could get. In the big 10-run frame Kaden Thompson, Ethan England, Garrett Harper, Jacob Vokal, Caleb Miele, and England all had RBIs in the inning.
Braxton Beal started and lasted just 1 1/3 innings for Bluff, giving up four runs on four hits. Jack Sparks came in and went 1 1/3 giving up three runs, just one earned on one hit and two walks. Gabe Gowder got the win for the Bears, surrendering just one hit and fanning three in 2 1/3 innings, striking out three.
The Broncos sent seven different pitchers to the hill to try and slow down the Bluff offense. Wyatt Barden started and took the loss for East Forsyth getting just one out while allowing five earned runs on four hits.
Owen McGee had two hits for East Forsyth.
The series moves to Cherokee Bluff on Wednesday.
NORTH HALL 7,
CHESTATEE 3
The Trojans moved into third place in the subregion with a win at Cottrell Field on Monday.
North Hall (12-6, 2-2 Region 8-4A North) got a solid effort on the mound from Kaleb Sexton and Campbell Payton. Sexton got the win going 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs on five hits and striking out four. Payton pitched the final 1 1/3 allowing one run on two hits.
Jake Hitchcock took the loss for Chestatee (10-10, 3-4 Region 8-4A North), which has lost four straight. Hitchcock went four innings, giving up six runs on five hits and fanning two. Wesley Gossett threw two innings in relief scattering three hits and giving up one run.
Chestatee took the initial lead with a run in the second on a North hall error. But the Trojans answered with three in the bottom of the second on a Mills Lothridge RBI single and two fielder’s choice RBIs as well. North Hall added a run in the third, two in the fourth, and one in the sixth after Chestatee cut the lead to 6-2.
The War Eagles plated a run in the seventh but could not keep the rally going.
The two teams will meet at the Lynn Cottrell Complex on Wednesday.
Ajay Jones and Lothridge both had two hits with Lothridge driving in three runs on the day for North Hall.
Dylan Thompson had two hits to lead the Chestatee offense.
LOGANVILLE 2,
FLOWERY BRANCH 1
The Class 5A fifth-ranked Red Devils completed a two-game sweep of the Falcons with a pair of unearned runs in a huge Region 8-5A matchup in Loganville.
It was pitcher’s duel the entire way between Branch’s Aaron Attaway and Loganville’s Tucker Segars. Attaway went the distance, going six innings, allowing five hits and two runs, both unearned, while striking out four. Segars scattered three hits over five innings, striking out three and walking one.
Loganville got both of its runs in the fifth on a two-out error with the bases loaded.
Branch got a run back in the sixth on a two-out, RBI double from Jackson Freeman. But they could not get the equalizer and were retired in order in the seventh.
The loss kept Branch (11-9, 4-4 Region 8-5A) in fourth place while Loganville (13-7, 6-0 Region 8-5A) remains the only unbeaten team in the region with the win.
GAINESVILLE 11,
SHILOH 0 (5 inn)
The Red Elephants won their second consecutive game with a dominating Region 8-6A win at Ivey-Watson Field on Monday.
Cooper Reid and Jeremy Medina combined on a no-hitter and walked just one over the five innings.
Reid went four innings and struck out four, walking none. Medina threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen.
Gainesville (10-10, 4-6 Region 8-6A) led just 1-0 on a Reid RBI single in the first before breaking the game open with three runs in third and four runs in the fourth. The Red Elephants scored twice in the gift to invoke the mercy rule.
In the third, Branson Crawford belted a two-run home.
Smith McGarvey ended it with a two-run double in the fifth.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCHEDULE
(All games start at 5:55 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
BASEBALL SCOREBOARD Monday, March 27
Banks County 5, West Hall 4
Buford 14, Central Gwinnett 0 (5 inn)*
Cherokee Bluff 18, East Forsyth 7*
Gainesville 10, Shiloh 0*
Jackson County 15, Apalachee 1*
Loganville 2, Flowery Branch 1*
North Forsyth 9, Habersham Central 3*
North Hall 7, Chestatee 3*
(* -- denotes region contest)
