FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Cherokee Bluff came into Wednesday’s crucial Region 8-4A North showdown with North Hall having dropped seven straight and was just 1-9 all-time against the Trojans going all the way back to 2019.
The Class 4A No. 1-ranked Bears put that streak to rest with Wednesday’s 9-4 comeback win. On Thursday, they dispelled all demons winning their first-ever series against the Trojans with an 11-2 thumping at home.
The win clinched the top spot in the subregion for Bluff (22-1, 8-1 Region 8-4A North) and sets up a matchup with South subregion winner and second-ranked North Oconee for the region title. The two teams will play a three-game series after the regular season.
“It’s nice to win the subregion but we still have a lot of room to improve and we’ll need to,” Bears coach Jeremy Kemp said. “I thought we played a lot better last week than we did this week but that’s also a credit to North Hall. They always battle you tough.”
Usual closer Jacob Vokal, making his first start of the season, went a season-long six innings giving up just two runs on four hits while striking out six. If not for a two-run home run from Mills Lothridge in the third, he would have had a shutout performance.
“Jacob threw great,” Kemp said. “He has done a great job in the closer role but we’re going to do whatever it takes to win games and series’. We won’t discount using him as a starter in the playoffs if that’s what we need to do.”
While Vokal was busy limiting the North Hall offense, the Bears offense wasted little time against North Hall starter Landon Lee in the first. Vokal ripped a lead-off single to center, moved to second on a sac bunt, stole third, and scored on a RBI single from Caleb Miele for a quick 1-0 lead. In the Bears’ second, Garrett Harper drew a one out walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. He later scored on a two-out single from Ty Corbin to push the lead to 2-0.
Vokal retired six straight until a one-out double from Jon Jon Read gave the Trojans a runner in scoring position. Lothridge followed with his blast to right two batters later to tie the game at 2.
Lee did settle down for North Hall (14-9, 4-5 Region 8-4A North), retiring seven in a row after Corbin’s hit in the second through the fourth. But he, and the North Hall bullpen, ran into huge trouble in the fifth and sixth innings.
Cherokee Bluff loaded the bases on a Vokal single and walks to Miele and Bryce England with one out. Brett House drove in Vokal on a sacrifice fly and Miele scored on a wild pitch that allowed England to advance to third. England scored on another wild pitch to push the lead to 5-2.
The Bears then loaded the bases against reliever Campbell Payton and Harper roped a two-run double to left. Luke Sanders came on for Payton and Vokal drove in a run on his second hit of the inning for an 8-2 lead.
In the sixth, Bluff got one run on a North Hall error, House knocked in his second run of the game with a single to left, and Kemp drove in House for the big lead.
After the home run to Lothridge, Vokal retired 10 of the last 12 batters he faced. Gabe Gowder struck out the side in the seventh to seal the win for the Bears.
Despite knowing its subregion finish, Bluff will play a huge factor in determining playoff positioning. The Bears close out the regular season next week against Chestatee (11-11, 4-5 Region 8-4A North) which is tied with North Hall for third place.
Meanwhile, North Hall takes on a struggling East Hall (4-16, 0-9 Region 8-4A North) squad next week. The top three teams in the subregion move into the region playoffs to determine the four playoff teams.
