DAWSONVILLE -- For the first time since 2003 East Hall will be playing playoff baseball.
The Vikings got a two-out, two-run double from Jack Hagwood in the top of the eighth inning and then held off a rally in the bottom of the inning to beat Dawson County 7-6 Wednesday night and secure a playoff spot in Region 7-AAA.
East Hall (12-10, 10-5 Region 7-AAA) has three region games left but can finish no worse than third place. The Vikings currently sit in second one-half game ahead of Lumpkin County (12-8, 9-5) which was taking on Fannin County Wednesday.
Dawson County (7-14, 5-9) is tied for the final playoff spot with West Hall (7-12, 5-9). The Tigers next travel to first place Franklin County on Friday and then play host to West Hall on Monday.
East Hall had rallied for a run in the top of the seventh inning to send the game in extra innings. That came after Dawson County had erased a 4-2 Vikings lead with three-run home run from J.T. Eggert in the bottom of the sixth.
Eli Stuart got the win for East Hall pitching the final two innings.
The Vikings have a huge game on Friday playing host to Lumpkin County in a battle for second place.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/4/303812/baseball-east-hall-clinches-state-playoff-berth-with-extra-inning-win-at-dawson-co