GAINESVILLE, Ga. — As quarterback for the football team and a mainstay in the North Hall starting rotation, Smith McGarvey knows a thing or two about using his arm.
But his bat on Tuesday was key for the Trojans, who rallied from behind twice to beat Lumpkin County 6-4 at Cottrell Field to open a key Region 6-3A series.
“When you know your pitcher’s up there fighting for us, and working hard, it inspires us to go work for him,” McGarvey said after a 2-for-2 night with three RBI, including a solo home run.
The Class 3A second-ranked Trojans (12-5, 8-2 Region 6-3A) came in tied with Dawson County for the region lead but had to survive four one-run contests over the course of the first three series to get there. With the win and Dawson County's loss to GAC on Tuesday, the Trojans take control of the region standings.
McGarvey said they are learning to play with the heightened expectations.
“This was a big game,” he said. “There's a lot of pressure on us, but we like the pressure. It means we're doing something right. Right now we're winning and we just have to stay focused and just win one game at a time.”
Campbell Payton, who had shut down a highly-ranked Pickens team two weeks ago, had to battle on Tuesday without his best command. He scattered seven hits, walked three, and hit a batter in his five innings. He threw his last pitch trailing 4-3, but McGarvey and the offense scored twice in the fifth to lift him to the win.
“I told him that when you don't have your best stuff and you still keep us in the game, that's a good sign. And he did that,” North Hall coach Trevor Flow said.
Payton worked around a hit batter in the first, and the Trojans used some two-magic in their half of the first against Lumpkin starter Adian Rogers. Custis Honeycutt knocked in Mills Lothridge after back-to-back doubles with two outs, and McGarvey followed with an RBI single, driving in Honeycutt for a 2-0 lead in just five batters.
The Indians (10-7, 4-5 Region 6-3A) got a pair of runners on in the top of the second after Matthew Mitchell doubled and Grant Hallman singled. But Kendal Lee popped up a bunt attempt, and Payton picked off Hallman first to get out of the jam.
Payton also picked off another runner to end a potential threat in the third. And Rogers also settled in, retiring seven straight through the third inning for the Indians.
But Payton could not get out of trouble in the fourth. Rogers walked with one out, Mitchell singled, and both advanced on a wild pitch. Jayzen Johnson then ripped a three-run home run to left to give Lumpkin County a 3-2 lead.
McGarvey ended Rogers’ streak with his lead-off bomb to left in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 3. But the Indians reclaimed the lead in the fifth, 4-3, on a RBI single from Mason Hester. Lumpkin loaded the bases with two out, but Payton got Johnson to ground out to end the inning.
“Campbell made some big pitches when he needed them,” Flow said.
Rogers, who allowed three runs on four hits and fanned four, was replaced by Logan Hamrick to start the fifth. North Hall quickly loaded the bases on a walk and two singles, and Hamrick walked McGarvey to drive in a run to tie the game. Thomas Davis gave North Hall a 5-4 lead with a RBI single to left, but the Trojans left the bases loaded with a chance to blow it open.
North Hall got a huge insurance run in the sixth when Cole Cable singled and stole second and third with one out. Ty Kemp knocked him in with a sacrifice fly after an eight-pitch battle with Aidyn Flanagan.
Micah Jimerson took over for Payton to start the sixth and retired six of the seven batters he faced to get the save.
“Micah’s been really good,” Flow said. “He's not scared of (the closer role). He's got a little bulldog mentality about him.”
The series moves to Dahlonega on Friday, as the two teams will play a doubleheader.
