The two teams didn't disappoint as Gainesville used a five-run first inning to grab the lead and then hold off a furious North Hall rally for a 7-4 win.
The win moved the Red Elephants (10-2, 8-2 Region 8-AAA) into no worse than second place, one-half game ahead of the Trojans (8-3, 7-2) in the standings. Both teams, which came in riding identical three-game win streaks, trail White County (9-1, 9-1) for the top spot.
How close are things at the top of Region 8-AAA? North Hall opened the region with a win over White County, which then knocked off Gainesville, which bested the Trojans on Friday.
"All three teams are very close," Gainesville coach Jeremy Kemp said. "Every game will be close and anyone can win them. We feel fortunate to come out with a win. Every win is a good one."
The Gainesville bats got going early against North Hall sophomore southpaw Preston Graham, sending 10 batters to the plate in the first inning. The Red Elephants pounded out four hits amongst the first six batters, highlighted by a three-run home from David Gonzalez, for a 5-0 lead. Ryan Griffith and Hunter Anglin also had RBI hits in the inning.
It would stay that way until the third when the Trojans finally broke through against Gonzalez, getting one run without a hit when Andrew Smith walked and later scored on a wild pitch
The Red Elephants were poised to blow the game open in the fifth. The visitors scored two runs with no outs on the board to push the lead to 7-1 but a collision at the plate between courtesy-runner Shad Petree and North Hall catcher Eli Gilmer resulted in Gilmer getting knocked out of the game.
A brief skirmish between members of both teams ensued with ejections to Petree and North Hall center fielder Wade Phillips. A 25-minute delay resulted as Gilmer was attended to and the umpires sorted things out.
"The umpires got the calls right," Kemp said. "It was a tough hit and hopefully (Gilmer) will be OK. He's a good catcher."
Gilmer got up and walked off the field with help, which seemed to spark the Trojans. In the bottom of the inning North Hall finally got to Gonzalez, rapping out their first two hits of the game, highlighted by a two-run single from Chris Stevens to cut the lead to 7-4 after five innings.
Gonzalez finished up earned the win, going 5 1/3 innings while allowing just two hits, walking four, and striking out six.
Jared Oliver came on in relief for North Hall in the sixth inning and restored order for the Trojans, fanning three Gainesville batters as the offense tried to rally against Red Elephants' reliever Stephen Mason. The Trojans put two runners on in the bottom of the seventh but Griffin Olson's long drive to center field -- a potential game-tying home run -- was caught at the base of the wall for the final out.
"North Hall didn't quit and Stephen didn't have his best stuff but he closed it out for us," Kemp said. "He's a tough competitor."
Gonzalez and Jimmy Kemp combined for four hits and four RBIs to lead the Gainesville attack. Ryan Griffith and Sims Griffith each had a hit and one RBI and Mason and Anglin had one hit each for the Elephants.
For North Hall, Mason Savage had two hits after coming in for Gilmer. Chris Stevens had a hit and one RBI, Olson and Zack Mize each finished with one hit, and Whit Bowen drove in one run for the Trojans.
Graham settled down after the first inning, allowing just four more hits while striking out three in five innings of work in the loss.
Gainesville's David Gonzalez celebrates after blasting a three-run home run in the first inning of the Elephants' 7-4 win over North Hall Friday.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/3/237388