Baseball roundup: Region 8-4A taking shape as Dragons, Falcons win

FLOWERY BRANCH — Class 4A No. 6 Flowery Branch clinched third place in Region 8-4A with a 12-0, five-inning win over Chestatee on Thursday at the Hog Mountain Sports Complex.

Austin Hatcher scattered three hits -- all singles by Nathan Bull, Hunter Fouche, Hunter Potzner -- and struck out four to get the win for the Falcons (20-7, 11-5 Region 8-4A).

The game was tied 0-0 heading into the bottom of the second when the Falcons took advantage of three Chestatee errors and a balk to score five unearned runs in a six-run inning. Branch exploded for six more runs in the third on a two-run double from Connor Larson, a two-run single from JB Bell, a fielder’s choice RBI from Kaleb Freeman, and an RBI single from Baxley O’Brien.

Despite the loss, the War Eagles (16-12, 8-8 Region 8-4A) remained in a tie with Madison County (10-18, 8-8 Region 8-4A) after the Red Raiders fell 10-0 to No. 5 North Oconee on Monday.

Chestatee and Flowery Branch will resume their series on Wednesday in Gainesville while Madison County will entertain North Oconee.

JEFFERSON 12,
EAST HALL 1

The sixth-ranked Dragons moved one win from clinching second place in Region 8-4A with a five-inning win over the Vikings on the road.

Jefferson (19-8, 13-3 Region 8-4A) scored six runs in the first and four in the second to take a big early lead. The Dragons added two more in the fourth.

J.J. Rapp went 4-for-4 with two RBI and Rem Maxwell had two hits and one RBI to pace a 9-hit Jefferson attack. Jace Peoples had a hit and two RBI while Cole Watkins added a triple for the Dragons.

Christian McCullough and Gavin Morters had one hit each for East Hall.

The two teams will resume their series on Wednesday in Jefferson.

AREA BASEBALL SCORES FOR Monday, April 19
Apalachee 15, Johnson 0*
Cherokee Bluff 14, Gilmer 5*
Denmark 8, Gainesville 1*
Flowery Branch 12, Chestatee 0*
Jackson County 5, Walnut Grove 1*
Jefferson 12, East Hall 1*
Lakeview Academy 8, Mt. Pisgah 0*
Lanier 5, Habersham Central 4*
Lumpkin County 13, Dawson County 8*
North Hall 14, West Hall 2*
White County 10, Union County 4

AREA BASEBALL SCHEDULE FOR Tuesday, April 20
Lincoln County at Towns County, 5:30 p.m.
Mt. Pisgah at Lakeview Academy, 5:30 p.m.*
Social Circle at Commerce*

(* -- denotes region contest)

Austin Hatcher (21) walks off the mound after an out by first baseman Kaleb Freeman (13) in the Falcons' 12-1 win over East Hall on Monday.

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