DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Jake Beard scattered six hits and allowed just two runs in leading North Hall to a 5-2 win over Lumpkin County on Thursday to clinch their best-of-three Region 6-3A series.
The win for the Trojans (13-5, 9-2 Region 6-3A) kept them one game ahead of both GAC and Pickens, who both won on Thursday, in the standings.
North Hall used a two-run third to break a 1-1 tie, getting RBI hits from Mills Lothridge and Custis Honeycutt.
Lumpkin County (10-9, 4-7 Region 6-3A) cut the lead to 3-2 in the fourth on an RBI single from Matthew Mitchell, who had two of the Indians' six hits. But as close as they could, Beard and Micah Jimerson allowed just one baserunner to reach second base over the final three innings.
Jayzen Johnson took the loss for Lumpkin County, striking out seven but giving up three runs on six hits and four walks in five innings.
Ty Kemp and Lothridge each had two hits for North Hall.
The two teams will close out their series on Friday in Gainesville at Cottrell Field.
WHITE COUNTY 7,
CHESTATEE 5
The Warriors jumped into a tie for fifth place in Region 6-3A with a win at home coupled with Lumpkin County’s loss to North Hall on Thursday.
White County (9-10, 4-7 Region 6-3A) opened the game with four runs in the first, highlighted by an RBI triple from Alex Freeman. The Warriors led 6-1 after the second.
Chestatee (5-15, 4-7 Region 6-3A) whittled the lead down to 6-4 in the fifth on an error and an RBI groundout from Carter Edmondson. The War Eagles pulled within the final score with a run in the seventh and had the go-ahead run at the plate. But Freeman struck out Zac Benna to end the game.
Grant Gooch got the win for White County, surrendering four runs (one earned) on six hits in five innings. Freeman earned the save for the Warriors.
Ryland Head took the loss for Chestatee giving up seven runs (four earned) on six hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight.
Freeman had two hits and drove in three runs for White County.
Ethan Dunn and Head each had two hits for Chestatee. Cort Hagerman, Dunn, and Edmondson all drove in one run for the War Eagles.
The two teams will close out their series on Friday at the Lynn Cottrell Complex.
GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN 13,
DAWSON COUNTY 6
The Tigers dropped their second straight game into fourth place in Region 6-3A with the loss at home on Thursday.
The game was tied at four after the third inning, but the Spartans (11-6, 8-3 Region 6-3A) scored nine unanswered runs, including a huge seven-run sixth, to blow the game open.
Matthew Lazarus had three hits, including a triple and a double, and drove in four runs to lead the GAC offense.
Dylan Edwards had three hits and a pair of RBI for the Tigers (12-8, 7-4 Region 6-3A), but it wasn’t enough.
The loss dropped Dawson County into fourth place in the region standings, but just one game behind GAC and Pickens.
The Tigers will try to salvage the final game in the series on Friday in Lilburn.
RINGGOLD 9,
UNION COUNTY 5
Union County could not hold the lead as Ringgold exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning to rally for the Region 7-2A win.
The Panthers led 4-2 after scoring two runs in the second and one each in the third and fourth innings.
Gunnar Akins, Lane Haney, Colten Gibson, and Maddox Patton all had two hits for Union County.
A single by Akins gave Union County a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. A double by Gibson gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead in the third.
But Ringgold used five hits, a walk, and two hit batters in the sixth to erase the deficit.
Union County next will travel to Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe on Friday..
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCOREBOARD THURSDAY, March 27
(First pitch at 5:55 unless otherwise noted)
GAC 13, Dawson County 6*
North Hall 5, Lumpkin County 2*
Pickens 17, Johnson 0 (3 inn)*
Ringgold 9, Union County 5*
White County 7, Chestatee 5*
(* -- denotes region contest)
