GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Class 4A fourth-ranked North Hall has been known for its pitching pedigree over the years. East Forsyth’s Jackson Weir beat the Trojans at their own game Wednesday.
The junior righthander retired the final 17 North Hall batters to lead the sixth-ranked Broncos to a 4-1 over the Trojans and even their huge Region 8-4A North series at home. The two teams are scheduled to close out the series on Friday at Lynn Cottrell Field, but rain is expected most of the day.
Weir did not allow a baserunner after the Trojans took the initial lead in the second. North Hall (12-2, 1-1 Region 8-4A North) got an RBI groundout from Micah Jimerson, scoring Charlie Wright, who had moved to third on a double steal.
The closest the Trojans got to a baserunner from that point on was when East Forsyth third baseman Owen McGee threw out the speedy Ajay Jones by a whisker on a bunt down the line to lead off the sixth.
Weir scattered two hits and fanned five in a complete game effort for the Broncos (11-4, 1-1 Region 8-4A North).
“Jackson was in the zone for us,” East Forsyth coach Kyle Counts said. “Every time he goes out there, he gives us a chance to win. “We didn’t really say anything to him after (North Hall got the lead). We just let him be him. He was outstanding tonight.”
Campbell Payton was solid for North Hall on the hill, especially early on.
Both pitchers worked around a baserunner in the first but East Forsyth’s Weir struck out Kenny Foudy while Payton got Will Moffitt to pop out to first to end the first.
Payton would set down seven Broncos in a row before Trey Farr tripled to lead off the fourth. Farr scored one batter later when Lucas Kniola singled to tie the game at 1.
Weir dominated the rest of the way. He got all the offense he would need in the fifth.
After retiring the first two batters in the fifth, Payton ran into trouble. He walked Joseph Gurr and Own McGee with two outs. Gurr stole third, and McGee moved to second on a wild pitch with Farr at the plate. Farr roped a single to center, driving in both to give the Broncos a 3-1 lead.
They got a big insurance run in the sixth when Matthew Lyons lined a home run over the center field wall, giving them a 4-1 advantage.
Counts was glad to see his group rally after watching them give four runs late in a 6-4 loss to the Trojans on Monday.
“Trey has had some big hits all season for us, and that’s exactly what we’re looking for from him,” Counts said. “This was a very big win when you look at this subregion. Every game is tough, no matter who it is.
“Winning the series is very important when you look at how tough this region is. No matter when we play the final game, we’re going to do everything we can to get that win."
