FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Flowery Branch's bats were too hot to handle for Winder-Barrow as the Falcons rolled to an 11-1 non-region win at home in five innings on Thursday.
The Falcons (14-9, 9-4 Region 8-4A) struck first in the bottom of the opening frame as Javi Ojeda drove in the first run of the game on a double in the bottom of the first inning.
Winder-Barrow responded in the top of the second, capitalizing on a defensive error to even the score at one apiece.
But the Falcons remained hot in the second inning, erupting for four runs behind key hits from Luke Stone, Parker Bourrie, and Ojeda, pushing their lead to 5-1.
Flowery Branch tacked on two more runs in the third, taking a 7-1 lead.
Flowery Branch’s Jacob Miller picked up the win on the mound, allowing three hits, walking two and striking out four.
Ojeda led the Falcons at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs, while Parker and Riley Bourrie also contributed multiple hits.
JEFFERSON 3,
EAST HALL 0
The Dragons (13-13, 8-5 Region 8-3A) held East Hall scoreless to pick up the Region 8-3A win on the road Thursday.
Matt Earon was tough to hit as he pitched five scoreless innings, with four Ks and no walks.
Jefferson got on the board in the first inning after Steven Tavares drew a bases-loaded walk to take a 1-0 lead. The Dragons added two more runs, one in the fourth and one in the fifth.
Eli Primm went 2-for-2 to lead Jefferson at the plate. Tavares and Logan Woodruff each drove in a run.
East Hall's Tyler Parker pitched five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits, with three strikeouts. Cody Knight, Cooper Barton, Jaxon Bambarger, and Nate Beasley each had a hit for the Vikings (6-19, 0-13 Region 8-3A).
LUMPKIN COUNTY 7,
JOHNSON 0
The Indians (13-7, 7-9 Region 6-3A) jumped out to a four-run lead in the first inning and never looked back en route to the shutout win over Johnson (2-23, 0-16 Region 6-3A) at home Thursday.
Lumpkin County's four-run inning was sparked by RBI singles from Mason Hester, Matthew Mitchell and Tyler Cortes.
Carson Horton, Grant Hallman, and Tyler Cortes combined for four hits and three RBIs to lead the Indians' offense.
Hallman doubled in the third to extend the lead, 7-0, followed by RBI singles from Horton and Cortes.
Hester earned the win on the mound, tossing three scoreless innings and allowing just two hits.
