FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Cherokee Bluff clinched the top spot in Region 8-4A North with a 13-3 win over Chestatee in Game 1 of the doubleheader at home on Friday.
All the Bears (21-4, 12-3 Region 8-4A) needed was one win over the next two games to take the No. 1 seed into next week's Region 8-4A championship series with the South No. 1 seed, Seckinger. That series will begin on Tuesday.
Kaden Thompson led the Bears in the win with six RBIs on three hits, including a grand slam to right field in the fourth inning. The two region foes were tied 3-3, heading into the bottom of the big fourth inning. Bluff ended the fourth up 8-3 and added five more in the fifth inning.
Jacob Vokal also hit a solo home run, and Tanka Mukono ripped a two-run shot to right field in the second inning.
Colton Wilbanks was 2-for-2 to lead the War Eagles.
In Game 2, Thompson belted another grand slam, this time in the third inning, to lead the Bears' 11-1 route of the Wildcats. He finished the day with nine RBIs. Caleb Miele was 3-for-3
GAINESVILLE 6,
LANIER 5
Smith McGarvey's sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning scored the go-ahead run, and Gainesville held on in the bottom to get the much-needed Region 8-6A road win Friday.
Gainesville led 5-1 after the fourth inning, but Lanier scored four runs in the fifth inning to tie the game.
Baxter Wright, Dawson Vaughn and Cohen Miller finished the day with two hits. Wright and Asher Stephens drove in two runs each.
Big Red hangs on to the fourth and final playoff spot with two games remaining.
JEFFERSON 4,
LOGANVILLE 1
The Dragons (15-11, 10-1 Region 8-5A) took the lead, 1-0, in the first and added insurance runs in the fourth and fifth to knock off Loganville (16-12, 10-1 Region 8-5A) at home on Friday.
The win ties the two teams atop the Region 8-5A standings and sets up a battle for the top spot on Monday at Loganville.
The Dragons pushed ahead 3-0 in the fourth on a single from Steven Tavares and an RBI double from Rett Hemphill.
Hemphill from 3-for-4 on the day to lead the Dragons.
Jase Peoples picked up the win for the Dragons, allowing one run on three hits, four walks and seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCOREBOARD, Friday, April 12
Cherokee Bluff 13, 11, Chestatee 3, 1*
Buford 9, Collins Hill 0*
East Jackson 4, 4 Union County 3, 2*
Elbert County 6, 5, Commerce 2, 11*
Gainesville 6, Lanier 5*
Habersham Central 5, Jackson County 2*
Jefferson 4, Loganville 1*
Pickens 3, Lumpkin County 2*
North Hall 12, East Hall 2*
North Forsyth 16, Shiloh 0*
Wesleyan 12, 17, West Hall 0, 4*
Gilmer 6, White County 1*
