The Indians, at one time 17-1 on the year, were swept in the first round of the Class AAA state playoffs by Elbert County, 2-1 in nine innings in Game 1, and then 6-3 in Game 2.
"We had many chances but could not get any big innings going on offense," Lumpkin County coach Nicki Jenkins said. "Everytime we had a rally going in was either with two out or something strange would happen to kill it."
The Indians, who finished the year 20-8 and came in as the No. 3 seed from Region 7-AAA, got a stellar pitching performance from Devin Dunson in Game 1 but could not find any offense. Dunson went 8 1/3 innings allowing just five hits while striking out 11. Dunson took a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning but the Blue Devils rallied to tie the game and then got the game-winner in the ninth inning.
Lumpkin County had taken a 1-0 in the first inning when Will Anderson singled to lead off the game, stole second, and then scored on a Chad Fulton double. But the Indians could manage just two more hits the rest of the way, one each from Drew Uptegraph and Donnie Harper.
In Game 2, Elbert County jumped on starter Uptegraph for three runs in the first. Lumpkin cut the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the first but the Blue Devils pushed their lead to 6-1 and chased Uptegraph in the fifth inning.
The Indians had the tying run at the plate in the fifth inning but could manage just one run as a runner was called out at home for failing to touch the plate. They added a run in the seventh but could get no closer.
David Weber and Kyle Lovell pitched the final 2 2/3 innings allowing no runs to keep the Indians in the game but the offense could not get the big hit.
Despite the disappointing ending, Jenkins said they have a lot to be proud of.
"We set several school records on offense and the 20 wins is the most ever by a Lumpkin County team in the regular season," Jenkins said. "We just picked a bad time of the year to go into a slump."
In Game 2, Andersoon had three hits while Harper two hits.
Tyler Trammel gets a hit in a game earlier in the season.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/5/220249