Baseball scoreboard: Branch, Buford, Banks, Dawson, Jefferson, CHS, Bluff pick up region wins

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Flowery Branch baseball team rallied past East Forsyth, 2-1, to win the Region 8-4A opener at home Tuesday. 

East Forsyth (9-5, 0-1 Region 8-4A) struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on an error to take a 1-0 lead. But the Falcons (6-5, 1-0 Region 8-4A) quickly responded, tying the game in the bottom half after an East Forsyth miscue.

The decisive moment came in the fourth inning when Luke Stone drew a bases-loaded walk, bringing in the go-ahead run.

Jacob Miller was dominant on the mound for Flowery Branch, throwing five and one-third hitless innings while striking out three. London Moshiri closed the game with one and two-thirds scoreless innings.

Flowery Branch managed just two hits, courtesy of Antonio De La Torre Mariscal and Parker Bourrie.

Makayle Moon led the Broncos at the play with one hit in three at-bats. 

The Falcons will travel to East Forsyth for a rematch on Friday.

BANKS COUNTY 3, 
RABUN COUNTY 2

The Leopards (8-4, 4-0 Region 8-A Division 1) grabbed the lead for good in the fifth inning and picked up the win at Rabun County on Tuesday. 

The Wildcats (7-5, 0-4 Region 8-A D1)struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on a single by Elvis Hunt to take an early 1-0 lead. 

However, Banks County responded in the fifth inning, scoring twice off a Chase Morrison single and a costly Rabun County error to take the lead for good.

On the mound, Owen Miller was dominant for the Leopards, recording 21 outs while allowing just two runs (one earned) on eight hits. He struck out eight and walked only one in a complete-game effort. Rabun County’s Alonso was also sharp, holding Banks County scoreless through three innings with five strikeouts.

Morrison led the Leopards' offense, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Gaven Sears and Miller also contributed with hits. For Rabun County, Hunt went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while 
Parker Smith added two hits. 

DAWSON COUNTY 4, 
WHITE COUNTY 3 

The Tigers rallied to the lead in the fourth inning to pick up their seventh win in a row on Tuesday with a victory over White County at home.

White County (5-6, 0-4 Region 6-3A) jumped ahead early, scoring one run in the first on a Caleb Campbell RBI single and adding two more in the second with run-scoring hits from Brayden Roach and Cooper Garrett.

However, the Tigers (9-4, 4-0 Region 6-3A) responded in the fourth, stringing together clutch hits. Carson Sosebee, Beckham Ayers, Elijah Odom and Jadyn Mattie each delivered RBI singles, putting the Tigers ahead 4-3.

Tripp Williams earned the win on the mound with a dominant relief appearance, tossing three and two-thirds hitless innings while striking out five. Case Gravitt started the game for Dawson County, allowing three runs on six hits over three and a third innings.

Odom and Ayers each contributed an RBI, while Preston Bannister led the Tigers with two hits. Dawson County was flawless, committing no errors, with Sosebee recording 11 plays.

White County saw hits from six different players, with Garrett, Roach, and Campbell driving in runs. Despite a strong start from Trevor Butler, who struck out nine over six innings, White County couldn’t hold off Dawson County’s late push.

The two region foes will play again on Thursday in Cleveland. 

BUFORD 22, 
CENTRAL GWINNETT 1

The fourth-ranked Wolves blew past Central Gwinnett in four innings on the road Tuesday.

The Wolves (9-3, 7-1 Region 8-6A) wasted no time, scoring three runs in the first inning, followed by four more in the second, highlighted by a two-run homer from Dexter McCleon Jr. and a solo shot by Caleb Griffin. Buford exploded for seven runs in the third and eight more in the fourth to put the game out of reach.

McCleon Jr. earned the win on the mound, tossing two hitless innings with three strikeouts. 

Offensively, Parks Cleveland led the charge with five RBIs, while Buford tallied 15 hits and played error-free defense.

Buford will host Northside on Saturday.

JEFFERSON 17, 
WEST HALL 0

The Dragons scored eight runs in the first inning and cruised to the win at West Hall on Tuesday in the Region 8-3A opener. 

Jefferson (6-8, 1-0 Region 8-3A) added three more in the second, highlighted by a two-run double from Rett Hemphill, before sealing the game with a six-run third inning to run-rule the Spartans (4-9, 0-1 Region 8-3A). 

John Kendrick took the loss for West Hall, while Eston Simpson earned the win for Jefferson, allowing just two hits over two innings. 

Brett Sturm and Jaden Young recorded the only hits for the Spartans.

West Hall will travel to Jefferson for a doubleheader on Friday. 

NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN 11, 
UNION COUNTY 5

North Cobb Christian scored eight runs in the top of the 7th inning to complete the rally and get the win on the road Tuesday. 

However, the Panthers (4-7, 0-1 Region 7-2A) led the entire game until the top of the 7th inning. 

The Panthers jumped ahead early, scoring five runs in the first, highlighted by a two-run single from Bentley Rich and an RBI double from Cayden Miller.

Despite a strong start from Gunnar Akins, who struck out eight over five and a third innings, North Cobb Christian stormed back in the seventh with six hits, including a three-run homer, to seal the comeback victory.

Union County will look to rebound when they travel to North Cobb Christian for a rematch on Thursday.

CHESTATEE 12, 
JOHNSON 2

The War Eagles dominated Johnson on Tuesday en route to a run-rule win at home on Tuesday. 

Chestatee (2-11, 1-3 Region 6-3A) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, with four runs in the first inning, highlighted by RBI singles from Parker Grant and Ethan Etris. The War Eagles extended their lead in the second with key hits from Zac Benna and Carter Edmondson.

Ryland Head earned the win, allowing just three hits and two runs over five innings. Ethan Dunn led the offense with three RBIs, while the War Eagles racked up 11 hits and an impressive 13 stolen bases.

Chestatee will face Johnson (2-11, 0-4 Region 6-3A) again on the road Thursday.

NORTH ATLANTA 3,
NORTH FORSYTH 1 (9)

The seventh-ranked Raiders gave up a two-run home run in the top of the 9th inning and couldn't rally back in the loss at home on Tuesday. 

The Raiders (8-6, 1-3 Region 6-6A) struck first in the second inning with an RBI single from Ty Womack. They held the lead until the seventh, when North Atlanta’s Eli Pitts launched a solo home run to tie the game.

In the ninth, Dallas Peoples hammered a two-run homer to center field, scoring Dustin Rovak, to push the Warriors (9-2, 4-0 Region 6- 6A) ahead for good.  

Brayden Weems was strong on the mound for North Forsyth, throwing five shutout innings with eight strikeouts. Seth Dixon, Womack, Ozzie Patterson, Brady Holbrook, and Ellis Alldredge each had a hit for the Raiders.

On Wednesday, North Forsyth will look for redemption in a rematch at North Atlanta.

CHEROKEE BLUFF 18, 
MONROE AREA 3

Garrett Harper’s explosive performance at the plate led the Bears to the blowout five-innings Region 8-3A win at Monroe Area on Tuesday.  

Harper drove in five runs, including a three-run homer in the third inning and a two-run single in the first.

Cherokee Bluff scored six runs in the opening frame and added seven more in the second. Cody Bridger delivered a three-run single, while Kaden Thompson’s two-run double extended the lead.

Gabe Gowder dominated on the mound, allowing no earned runs over four innings while striking out six.

Cherokee Bluff will host Monroe Area for a doubleheader on Friday.

LANIER CHRISTIAN 18, 
COVINGTON ACADEMY 3

The Lightning strolled to a 15-run win over Covington Academy at home on Tuesday.

The win improved LCA to 3-1.

Evan Kalinauskas picked up the victory, striking out seven and giving up only two hits.

The Lightning offense struck often, amassing 13 hits, with Drew Kalinauskas leading the way, going 3 for 4 with a home run and 4 RBIs. 

Tres Criste, Gavin Strabala, and Hayden Davis added multiple hits. Evan Kalinauskas tacked on 3 RBIs. Mikah Criste, Earl Adamson, and Walker Barnes also had hits.

The Lightning will host Victory Baptist on Thursday.