The Falcons faced elimination in their best-of-three series against Salem after the Seminoles won Game 1, 8-7, in an epic 12-inning battle Wednesday night. In Games 2 and 3, Flowery Branch got stellar pitching and timely hitting to take 4-0 and 22-0 wins at the Hog Mountain Sports Complex to win the series 2-1 and advance to the Class AAAA state playoffs.
The Falcons (20-6) will be on the road next week when the Class AAAA playoffs begin. They will be either the No. 3 or 4 seed from 8-AAAA depending on who wins the Heritage-Madison County series, which began Thursday. A Heritage win and Flowery Branch will be the fourth seed while a Madison County victory would make the Falcons the third seed.
Flowery Branch coach Scott Myers was proud of how his team responded.
"They knew what was at stake and I really didn't have to talk to them much (after Wednesday's game)," Myers said. "They came out today and responded very well. It was good to see us swing the bats."
While the offense finally came alive, it was the pitching depth of the Falcons that was the difference. Flowery Branch used just two pitchers Thursday while the Seminoles were forced to use four in one inning alone.
"We felt good about our pitching but you have to come out and execute," Myers said. "The first game was tight and wasn't over until the final out. Chase (Hulsey) was outstanding (in Game 2) and gave us a chance to win the series. I really kind of expected that from him because he's done it before. If we don't win the first game, we were going home."
Hulsey set the tone in Game 2 tossing a complete-game, seven-hitter while watching the offense bang out eight hits. The Falcons offense got going quickly in Game 2 when C.J. Navin tripled to open the game and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Logan Conley for a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
The Falcons added two runs in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Breck Davidson scoring Navin and an RBI double by Drew Miles scoring Davidson for a 3-0 lead. Flowery Branch made it 4-0 in the sixth when Keltin Devoe singled, stole second, and then scored on a Salem error.
Meanwhile, Hulsey scattered the seven Salem hits allowing just two base runners to reach second base while fanning 11. He retired eight of the final 10 batters of the game. The difference for Hulsey in Game 2 was holding the Nos. 3-6 hitters for Salem in check. The group was 10-for-23 with two RBI and five runs scored in Game 1 but just 2-for-12 in Game 2 with no RBI and no runs scored.
Salem starter Garrett Needham also went the distance walking three and striking out two in Game 2. Needham also had three of the Seminoles' seven hits. Josh Webster had two hits for Salem (8-18).
Navin had one hit and scored twice for Flowery Branch. Miles had two hits and an RBI to pace the Falcons offense. Conley, Davidson, Hulsey, Devoe, and Justin Seabolt each had one hit for Flowery Branch.
Game 3 started much the same as Game 2. After Flowery Branch starter Andrew Weekley held the Seminoles in the top of the first inning, the Falcons offense went to work sending 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning.
Navin walked and Conley singled to start the inning and then Navin would score on a throwing error by the catcher on a double steal. Conley then scored on a sacrifice fly from Davidson. Miles singled and Hulsey doubled with one out and both would score on a two-run double by Devoe. Laur would reach on a fielder's choice and score on a two-out single by Gant Davis for a 5-0 lead.
The Falcons continued the barrage in the second inning sending 22 batters to the plate against four Salem pitchers after knocking out starter Reed Hill after just one inning. The first nine batters reached and scored, highlighted by a three-run home run from Devoe, a two-run single from Navin, and RBI hits from Hulsey and Miles in a 17-run inning. Reserves Chad Kahlert and Chandler Melecki added two-RBI hits to make it 22-0.
Weekley then got the Seminoles in order in the top of the third to invoke the 15-run mercy rule.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/4/248014