Baseball playoffs: Mother Nature prevails; EaFo advances; Hab splits; GHS eliminated

There was a threat of rain on the opening day of the high school baseball playoffs.

Mother Nature wielded her bat, forcing the postponement of three series across Northeast Georgia. 

Towns County, No. 2 seed, only made it to the bottom of the first inning of its best-of-three Class A Division 2 series in Hiawassee against No. 3 seed Irwin County. When play was stopped, Irwin County was leading 1-0 in Game 1. 

In Class 6A, No. 1 seed Buford (24-7) rolled past fourth-seeded Chapel Hill (8-18) in Game 1, but Game 2 was delayed. The Wolves got a dominant performance from Braden Burton on the mound, who fanned 13 batters, allowing four hits in the complete Game 1 performance. 

Buford scored four runs in the bottom of the second and put it out of reach in the fourth, thanks to a three-run shot from Cannon Goldin. 

In Class 5A, No. 2 seed River Ridge (21-11) strolled past No. 3 seed Gainesville (12-19) with an 8-1 and 10-0 win over the Red Elephants. The loss eliminated Gainesville from the playoffs. 

Meanwhile, after falling 14-5 in the opening game at Lee County (21-11), Habersham Central regrouped in Game 2, winning 3-1. 

The Raiders (19-12) led 1-0 going into the seventh inning, but committed an error in the top of the seventh inning that resulted in a Trojan run and a tie game. Spencer Frady saved the day in the bottom of the inning with a walk-off double that pushed home two runs and the win. 

Maverick Chitwood picked up the win, allowing one run on three hits, striking out four in seven innings. 

Game 3 is set for Thursday in Leesburg at 4:30 p.m.

In Class 4A, Flowery Branch got the Game 1 win, 7-3, over Jones County, but Game 2 was postponed until Thursday. 

However, East Forsyth, a No. 3 seed, eliminated No. 2 seed Union Grove (18-9) on the road, 2-1 and 11-1, to advance to the second round. 

After an eight-inning Game 1 that ended with a Trey Farr RBI ground out for the win, the Broncos (21-10) exploded for 11 runs in Game 2 to leave no doubt. EaFo blew open the game with a six-run second inning, thanks to doubles by Jackson Staton and Zach Aschoff, and a single by Mason Schreiber. Boone Blanton’s triple also scored a run. 

Farr picked up the win on the hill, allowing four hits and a run while striking out seven and walking one.