Baseball scoreboard: NHall, Dawson, Lumpkin win; NoFo, White, Johnson, Jackson, Bluff, CHS lose

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — In a pitcher's duel, the sixth-ranked North Hall baseball team brought two runs home to knock off Greater Atlanta Christian 2-0 at home on Thursday.

Smith McGarvey delivered a stellar performance on the mound, recording 17 outs while allowing just one hit in five and two-thirds innings. McGarvey struck out five and navigated around six walks to keep the Spartans off the scoreboard.

North Hall (6-3, 2-0 Region 6-3A) broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning when Kenny Foudy grounded out, bringing home the game's first run. An inning later, Micah Jimerson provided an insurance run with a towering solo home run to left field, giving the Trojans a 2-0 lead.

Jimerson also played a key role in closing the game, earning the save after McGarvey’s strong outing.

Despite the loss, GAC’s Denzell Watkins put together an impressive effort on the mound, striking out eight over six innings while allowing only one earned run on one hit.

The Trojans’ defense was sharp throughout the night, turning two key double plays to stifle the Spartans' offensive threats.

North Hall will play GAC (3-5, 0-2 Region 6-3A) on Friday in Lilburn, hoping to sweep the series.  

SOUTH FORSYTH 5,
NORTH FORSYTH 4

The Raiders comeback fell short in the loss to region rival South Forsyth at home on Thursday. 

Despite outhitting South Forsyth 11-6, North Forsyth found themselves in an early hole and couldn’t quite climb out. 

A four-run fourth inning by South Forsyth proved the difference, as the Raiders’ efforts to rally in the later innings came up just shy.

The game was tied 1-1 after three innings, but the War Eagles capitalized on a string of hits and a costly error in the fourth. Bryce Irwin’s single up the middle, a walk drawn by Troy Barber, and a double-play ball hit by Bresden Fabirkiewicz led to runs, while a defensive miscue allowed another to score, putting South Forsyth ahead 5-1.

North Forsyth responded with a determined comeback effort. In the bottom of the fourth, Ozzie Patterson’s single down the left-field line got the Raiders on the board. They continued to close the gap with a clutch RBI single, a double, and a sacrifice fly, making it a one-run game heading into the final innings.

Seth Dixon led North Forsyth’s offense with three hits, while Bryson Germanenko, Patterson, and Ellis Alldredge each drove in a run. Colter Vela also had a strong performance at the plate, collecting two hits in two at-bats.

LUMPKIN COUNTY 11,
CHESTATEE 5

Lumpkin County rallied from an early 5-0 deficit to clinch its Region 6-3A opening series on the road on Thursday.

Chestatee (1-01, 0-2 Region 6-3A) exploded for five runs in the first inning getting RBIs from Carter Edmondson, Cort Hagerman, Ethan Etris, and Parker Grant off Lumpkin County starter Jayzen Johnson, who lasted just two-thirds of an inning.

But the Indians (8-2, 2-0 Region 6-3A) pulled within 5-3 in third on a two-run triple from Mason Hester and a RBI single from Johnson. It stayed that way until the fifth.

Lumpkin County got a RBI single from Adian Rogers, Johnson doubled in another run, and the Indians got a run off a Chestatee error to take a 6-5 lead. They added two more in the sixth and three more in the seventh.

Ryland Head took the loss for Chestatee, giving up six runs (four earned) on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two.

Aidyn Flanagan earned the win for Lumpkin County, giving up just one hit in 1 2/3 innings.

The two teams’ will close out their series on Friday in Dahlonega.

PICKENS 8,
WHITE COUNTY 4

The Warriors could not hold a lead against the second-ranked Dragons on the road.

White County (5-5, 0-2 Region 6-3A) jumped out to a 4-0 lead, highlighted by a two-run single from Brayden Roach to cap a three-run third inning.

Pickens (10-1, 2-0 Region 6-3A) closed the gap to 4-2 on a RBI single from Jennings Allen and a run-scoring groundout from AJ Rice. The Warriors looked poised for the upset with just six out remaining.

But the Dragons erupted for six runs in the bottom of the sixth. Back-to-back doubles by Christian Starks and Cade Sutton tied the game at 4 and Matthew Davis gave them the lead for good with a two-run double to right. 

Ezra Faber got the win in relief for Pickens giving up just one hit in four innings while striking out six. 

Alex Freeman took the loss for White County, surrendering six runs on five hits in two innings.

Shelton Ramey and Caleb Campbell each had two hits for White County.

The Warriors will try and salvage the final game of the series on Friday at home.

DAWSON COUNTY 12,
JOHNSON 1

A dominant offensive performance, highlighted by a stellar night from Preston Bannister, powered the Tigers (6-4, 2-0 Region 6-3A) past Johnson on Thursday.

Bannister was 3-of-4 at the plate, including a triple in the second inning and two singles. His contributions fueled a Tigers offense that exploded for seven runs in the second inning, putting the game out of reach early.

Dawson County set the tone in the first inning when Carson Sosebee lifted a sacrifice fly to bring in the first run. The Tigers’ offense erupted in the second, with Jadyn Mattie drawing a walk to score one, Ryder Sorace doubling home two, an error adding another, Bannister tripling to bring in one, and Sosebee capping the rally with a two-run double.

Bannister added another RBI in the third, grounding into a fielder’s choice to make it 9-1. The Tigers continued to apply pressure throughout the game with aggressive baserunning, stealing seven bases, including two from Elijah Odom.

Anden Wallace started strong on the mound for Dawson County, allowing just three hits and one run over three innings while striking out two. Tripp Williams was lights out in relief, tossing one and two-thirds innings of shutout baseball, striking out four and allowing no hits.

For Johnson, Rye Kelly drove in the team’s lone run, while Braden Black, Nathan Nguyen, and Cruz Gobert each recorded a hit.