FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Cherokee Bluff ran its win streak to 10 straight and pushed its lead in Region 8-3A to three games with a 4-2 win over Oconee County to open a three-game series on Tuesday
The win for the Bears (14-8, 10-0- Region 8-3A) also put their magic number to clinch the region at just one game.
Bluff broke open a 1-1 tie in the third when Bubba Coleman doubled in a run and Ethan England scored on a wild pitch. Oconee County (16-6, 7-3 Region 8-3A) cut the lead to 3-2 in the fifth but the Bears when Bryce Fontenot singled in Coleman.
Gabe Gowder got the win scattering five hits and allowing two runs (one earned) over six innings. He struck out four and walked three. Tucker Holton got the save despite walking two. But he also stuck out two in his one inning.
Nate Roberson took the loss for Oconee County, allowing four runs on six hits and in six innings.
The two teams will resume their series on Friday with a doubleheader in Watkinsville.
GAINESVILLE 3-1,
CHATTAHOOCHEE 1-0
The Red Elephants continued their climb up the region standings with a doubleheader sweep over the Cougars on Tuesday at Ivey-Watson Field.
Gainesville (11-12, 9-5 Region 7-5A) jumped into third place with the wins and pushed its win streak to five in a row.
Dawson Vaughn and Silas Ingram tossed a combined two-hitter in the first game.
Cohen Miller and Beckett Brown followed in the second game, also allowing just two hits.
The two teams will close out their series on Wednesday.
WEST HALL 5,
EAST HALL 0
John Kendrick tossed a two-hitter and struck out five to lead the Spartans to a Region 8-3A win at Spartans Field.
Luis Rosales and Marcus Pugh each had two hits for West Hall. Rosales and Connor Toledo each drove in one run for the Spartans.
The win for the Spartans (7-15, 3-7 Region 8-3A) moved them within one game of Monroe Area (8-12, 4-6 Region 8-3A) for fourth place. The Hurricanes lost 13-1 to Jefferson on Tuesday.
West Hall and East Hall will close out their series on Friday at East Hall Park with a doubleheader.
EAST FORSYTH 1,
WALNUT GROVE 0
Mason Schreiber’s solo home run to left in the fifth was all the Broncos needed for a huge Region 8-4A win at home on Tuesday.
That was all Grant Barden needed on the mound. Barden fanned 13 and allowed just two hits in a complete-game effort.
Sean Martell took the loss for Walnut Grove, scattering three hits and walking one in five innings.
The win moved East Forsyth (14-9, 5-5 Region 8-4A) within one game of the Warriors (14-8, 6-4 Region 8-4A) for third place.
The two teams will resume their series on Friday with a doubleheader at Walnut Grove.
BANKS COUNTY 6,
OGLETHORPE COUNTY 0
The Leopards stayed unbeaten in Region 8-A Division 1 with a shutout win at home.
Owen Miller earned the win for Banks County (19-3, 13-0 Region 8-A D1) giving up just four hits and fanning four in a complete game.
Banks County scored once in the first, two more in the second, and put the game away with three in the sixth.
The two teams will conclude their series with a doubleheader on Friday in Lexington.
LANIER CHRISTIAN 15,
TRINITY CLASSICAL 0
Tres Criste and Gavin Strabala both hit home runs and combined for 8 RBI to lead the Lightning to a win on Tuesday at home.
LCA pounded out 13 hits while Evan Kalinauskas and Mikah Criste combined on no-hitter on the mound.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCOREBOARD FOR TUESDAY, April 1
Banks County 6, Oglethorpe County 0*
Cherokee Bluff 4, Oconee County 2*
East Forsyth 1, Walnut Grove 0*
Elbert County 4, Rabun County 1*
Franklin County 8, East Jackson 5*
Gainesville 3-1, Chattahoochee 1-0*
GAC 5, Chestatee 2*
Jefferson 13, Monroe Area 1*
Lanier Christian 15, Trinity Classical 0 (3 inn)
Lumpkin County 6, White County 1*
North Forsyth 9, Alpharetta 0*
North Hall 10, Johnson 0* (6 inn)
Pickens 10, Dawson County 0*
Union County 15, LFO 0* (3 inn)
West Hall 5, East Hall 0*
(* -- denotes region contest)
