GAINESVILLE, Ga. -- North Hall opened the 2025 Class 3A playoffs with a solid two-game sweep of Richmond Academy at Cottrell Field.
The third-seeded Trojans took 5-0 and 12-0 wins behind pair of stellar pitching performances from Branson Crawford and Micah Jimerson.
In the opener, Crawford piled up 12 strikeouts while giving up three hits and no runs in a complete game. In the second game, Micah Jimer fanned six while allowing just two hits in three innings.
North Hall opened with five runs in the top of the first on a two-run single from Custis Honeycutt and two-run home run from Jimerson. The Trojans would score in every inning as they closed the series in impressive fashion.
EAST JACKSON 3-5,
FRANKLIN COUNTY 4-4
Jayden Nunez doubled in two runs with two-out in the bottom of the seventh to lift East Jackson to a 5-4 in the second game to send the series to a deciding third game on Saturday.
In thrilling fashion, East Jackson sent its Class 2A first round playoff series with Franklin County to a deciding third game when Jayden Nunez doubled in two runs with two-out in the bottom of the seventh for a 5-4 win in Game 2 after dropping the series opener, 4-3.
The Eagles had led 3-2 going into the seventh when the Lions plated two runs to grab a 4-3 lead. But in the seventh, Brooks Saunders, Hanseong Kang, and Bryse Patterson all reached with one out to load the bases. Nick Carpenter grounded out to bring up Nunez with the series hanging in the balance.
In the first game, Franklin County scored four runs in the third to erase a 2-0 deficit and then held on down the stretch.
First pitch for Game 3 on Saturday is set for 3 p.m. in Carnesville.
JEFFERSON 10-11
WEST LAURENS 11-1
The Dragons kept their Class 3A series alive with a 11-1, five-inning win in the second game of a doubleheader.
Game 3 is set for noon Saturday in Dublin.
Jefferson blew open a close 2-1 game with seven runs in the third, powered by a two-run single from Steven Tavares and a three-run double from Dylan Verdi for a 9-1 lead. The Dragons put it away with two more in the fifth from another two-run single from Tavares.
Matt Earon got the win for Jefferson scattering three hits over five innings.
In the first game, Jefferson rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to take a 7-5 lead in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk by Ryan Reed and a RBI single from Jackson Sims.
But the Raiders exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to reclaim the lead at 11-7. The Dragons did not go away, however.
Eli Primm smacked a three-run in the top of the seventh to close the gap but Tavares flew out to center to end the game.
DAWSON COUNTY 5-13,
SE BULLOCH 7-1
The Tigers also forced a deciding third game in their Class 3A series, pummeling the Jackets 13-1 in the second game after dropping the opener 7-5 after leading 4-1 early.
In the second game, Carson Sosebee had three hits and three RBI as Dawson County scored three in the first, seven in the second, and three in the third for a 13-0 after three innings.
In the big inning, Elijah Odom singled in two runs, Sosebee knocked in a run, and Jadyn Mattie had the big blow with a three-run triple to cap it.
Case Gravitt got the win for Dawson County, allowing just one run on two hits in three innings.
In the first game, SE Bulloch scored four runs in the fourth to take a 6-5 lead. Dawson County three times over the final four innings had at least two runners on base but could not extend its lead or rally.
Game 3 is set for 1 p.m.in Brooklet, Ga.
UNION COUNTY 9,
STEPHENS COUNTY 3
The Panthers never trailed in taking the opening game of their Class 2A first round series on the road in Toccoa.
Gunnar Akins had three hits and drove in three runs to lead an 11-hit attack. Lane Haney and Bo Brown both knocked in a pair of runs as Union County led 6-2 before putting the game out of reach with three runs in the seventh.
Eli Gwynn got the win for Union County surrendering two runs on four hits in five innings. He fanned two and walked three. Colten Gibson pitched the final two innings, allowing one run on one hit and striking four.
The two teams will resume their series on Saturday at noon in Toccoa.
PREP BASEBALL 1st ROUND PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD, Friday, April 25
Class 3A
Cherokee Bluff 3-9, Lumpkin County 2-3 (Bears win series, 2-0)
Dawson County 5-13, SE Bulloch 7-1
Jefferson 10-11, West Laurens 11-1
North Hall 5-12, Richmond Academy 0-0 (Trojans win series, 2-0)
Peach County 8-13, West Hall 1-3 (Peach wins series, 2-0)
Class 2A
East Jackson 3-5, Franklin County 4-4
Union County 9, Stephens County 3
Class A D1
Bacon County 4, Banks County 2
Bremen 7, Rabun County 6
