OAKWOOD, Ga. — Cherokee Bluff closed out its Region 8-3A schedule on Friday needing a sweep of West Hall to clinch the title.
Bluff won the opening game 6-2 but could not get that final elusive win as the Spartans responded with an 8-4 win in the second game.
The loss relagted the Bears (16-11, 12-3 Region 8-3A) to second place despite finishing in a tie with Oconee County (21-6, 12-3 Region 8-3A). Bluff dropped two of its three games with the Warriors last week in their best-of-three series. Oconee County will take the top seed into the upcoming state playoffs
In the first game, Landon Kemp and Logan Robinson held West Hall to just five hits, with Kemp getting the win. Bubba Coleman had three hits and 1 RBI while KT Thompson knocked in two runs.
Bluff scored two runs each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.
In the second game, the Spartans scored six runs in the first inning. Barry Bulluck drove in two runs and Brett Sturm and Chase Berger each had RBI hits as well in the big inning.
Bluff pulled within 8-4 in the sixth on a two-run home run by Bryce Fontenot.
Marcus Pugh got the win for the Spartans (10-17, 6-9 Region 8-3A) allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out four.
The win for the Spartans sealed the No. 4 spot and a spot in the playoffs as well.
NORTH HALL 13,
DAWSON COUNTY 3
The Trojans kept pace atop Region 6-3A with a five-inning win on the road on Friday.
Kenny Foudy had a career-day with three hits and 6 RBI, including a double and a two-run home run that helped break the game open. Mills Lothridge also had a hit and 3 RBI for North Hall.
But the Trojans (17-6, 14-3 Region 6-3A) had to fight back from a 3-2 deficit in the first inning after the Tigers’ Case Gravitt ripped a two-run single.
North Hall responded with five runs in the second, two in the fourth, and fourth in the fifth to invoke the Mercy Rule.
Jake Beard got the complete-game win for North Hall, scattering four hits and giving up three runs (zero earned) and fanning five.
Will Battles took the loss for Dawson County (14-12, 9-8 Region 6-3A). Battles was touched up for seven runs on four hits in just 1 1/3 innings.
The two teams will close out their series on Saturday at Cottrell Field. North Hall will need a win to stay tied with Pickens (23-4, 15-3 Region 6-3A) with three games left in the region schedule.
RABUN COUNTY STAYS HOT, BANKS COUNTY DROPS TO 2nd IN REGION 8-A D1
Banks County (22-5, 16-2 Region 8-A D1) split a doubleheader with Elbert County, winning the first game 4-2 but falling 2-1 in the second. The loss in the second game dropped the Leopards into second place behind Providence Christian (21-5, 17-1 Region 8-A D1).
Banks County and Providence Christian will play for the region title, and a gauranteed top 8 seed in the upcoming state playoffs, next week with a three-game series beginning on Tuesday in Lilburn.
Meanwhile, Rabun County continues to surge at just the right time. The Wildcats (17-9, 10-8 Region 8-A D1) won their seventh straight game after sweeping Athens Academy 4-1 and 10-2 in a doubleheader in Watkinsville.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCOREBOARD FOR FRIDAY, April 11
Banks County 4-1, Elbert County 2-2*
Cherokee Bluff 6-4, West Hall 2-8*
Denmark 3, North Forsyth 1*
GAC 5, White County 1*
Habersham Central 17, Hebron Christian 6 (5 inn)
Loganville 12, Gainesville 2 (5 inn)
Lumpkin County 7, Johnson 0*
North Hall 13, Dawson County 3*
Pickens 4-10, Chestatee 3-0*
Rabun County 4-10, Athens Academy 1-2*
(* -- denotes region contest)
