FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons exploded for seven runs in the fifth inning to blow past West Hall, 11-6, Monday afternoon.
Zack Wagner earned the victory on the mound for Flowery Branch. He allowed five hits and three runs over five and two-thirds innings, striking out four and walking one. Houston threw one and one-third innings in relief.
The Falcons seven-run fifth inning was powered by Austin Hatcher, Anthony Woeltje, Jake Beaver, Connor Larson, Grant Lackey and Conner Reynolds all drove runs home.
Branch drove in one run in the first inning to take the lead, but West Hall would answer with a three-run third inning.
Braden Whisnant single scored Braden Simms and Canaan Koger double scored Hunter Samples and Whisnant, giving the Spartans a 3-1.
Flowery Branch added a run in the bottom of the third off a sacrifice fly from Andrew Armstrong, inching the Falcons closer, 3-2.
West Hall scored three runs in the seventh.
Flowery Branch (8-4, 2-0) will host Marist Tuesday. Game time is 5:55 p.m.
West Hall (6-9, 0-3) will host Flowery Branch Wednesday. First pitch is 5:55 p.m.
LAKEVIEW 11,
PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN 5
The Lions rocked 2018 Region 8-A pitcher of the year, Cole Tillitson, early to stroll to the region win Monday on the road.
Lakeview scored four runs in the first inning to set the tone and the pace of the Region 8-A battle.
Andrew Estes earned the win on the mound, pitching 5 innings, with 4 strikeouts and 3 earned runs allowed.
Estes was also 2-for-4 at the plate and scored 3 runs.
Sam Stewart 3-for-3, with two RBI, Campbell Melson was 3-for-4, including a 2-run double.
KJ Millwood 2-for-3 with two doubles, including an RBI double, a walk, and scored two runs.
The Lions had 15 hits and 10 RBI.
The Lions (10-2, 2-0) will travel to Commerce Tuesday at 5:55 p.m.
LANIER 10,
GAINESVILLE 2
The Red Elephants continue to struggle on Monday night at Lanier, losing their third straight and the last six out of seven.
Lanier smashed 11 hits and scored 10 runs through six innings.
Gainesville scored one run in the fourth and one in the sixth off five hits.
Gainesville (5-9, 0-1) will host Lanier Wednesday at 5:55 p.m.
HABERSHAM CENTRAL 10,
APALACHEE 3
After falling behind 3-1 in the third inning, the Raiders scored nine unanswered runs to knock off Apalachee Monday on the road.
Alex McFarlane snagged the win on the hill for the Raiders, going six innings. He gave up two earned runs on five hits and struck out a game-high 11 batters. Payton Irvin picked one inning, allowing no hits while striking out three.
Logan Hare and Irvin both homered for the Raiders. Hare was 2-for-4 with 4 RBI and Irvin was 3-for-4 with four RBI. McFarlane and Ryte Woodruff also had an RBI each.
The Raiders (13-3, 1-0) will host Apalachee Wednesday at 5:55 p.m.
WHITE COUNTY 1,
CHESTATEE 0
Jared Johnson scored off a Chestatee error in the fifth inning to give the Warriors the eventual winning run Monday in the Region 7-4A bout against the War Eagles.
Johnson also pitched the complete-game shutout, giving up one hit and striking out four.
White County (7-5, 3-0) will travel to Chestatee (7-4, 0-1) for game two of the three-game series on Wednesday. Game time is 5:55 p.m.
LUMPKIN COUNTY 3,
EAST HALL 0
Matthew Grizzle struck out 13 East Hall batters to help lead the Indians to the Region 7-3A win Monday afternoon at home.
Grizzle and East Hall's Luke Holtzclaw dueled each other on the mound until Lumpkin took the lead in the fifth off Viking mistakes.
Holtzclaw pitched six innings, giving up four hits and no earned runs. He also struck out five.
East Hall (1-10, 0-4) will host Lumpkin (7-7, 2-5) for game two of the three-game series Wednesday at 5:55 p.m.
EAST JACKSON 11,
RIVERSIDE 0
East Jackson's Halton Hardy was almost untouchable on the mound Monday in the win over Riverside Military.
Hardy pitched six flawless innings, giving up three hits and striking out 8 to pick up the win.
Hardy also drove in three runs on a 2-for-4 day at the plate. Jarrett Pursley was 3-for-4 with three RBI. Caleb Adair drove in two runs and Cole Sealey and Josh Compton each had one RBI.
East Jackson scored one run in the first, three in the third and fourth and four runs in the six innings.
East Jackson (6-7. 1-5) will host Mountain View Thursday at 6 p.m.
Riverside (8-7. 1-2) will host Athens Christian Tuesday. First pitch is 5:30 p.m.
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