GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Gainesville used a big third inning to rally past Lanier, 8-1, for its third straight Region 7-5A win on Monday at Ivey-Watson.
The Red Elephants (5-11, 3-4 Region 8-5A) trailed 1-0 after the first inning but plated two runs in the second on a pair of RBI sacrifice flies from Beckett Brown and Adrian Medina. They blew it open with a five-run third.
Gainesville scored runs on two passed balls, another sacrifice fly and CJ Saudarg highlighted the inning with a two-run single.
Andrew Rice and Saudarg each had two hits for Gainesville.
Dawson Vaughn got the win scattering three hits and allowing just one run in over six innings, striking out eight.
The two teams will head to Sugar hill on Wednesday for the second game of the series.
BUFORD 10,
RABUN GAP 0 (6 inn)
The Wolves pushed their season-high win streak to 6 games with a six inning win at home on Monday.
Buford (12-3) scored twice in the first on a Rabun Gap error and then exploded for five runs in the third on RBI singles by Ryan Johansen, Dexter McCleon Jr, and Carson Reeves. The Wolves scored three in the bottom of the sixth to invoke the Mercy Rule.
Luke Hopper earned the win for Buford. Hopper allowed no runs on just two hits and no walks in six innings of work. He fanned eight.
Ayden Lockett and McCleon Jr had two hits apiece for the Wolves. McCleon Jr knocked in four runs.
Buford is off for a week before traveling to Mill Creek next Monday in what is expected to be a battle for first place in region 8-6A.
CLARKE CENTRAL 6,
JACKSON COUNTY 3
The Panthers saw their two-game Region 8-5A win streak snapped on Monday on the road.
Clarke Central (8-10, 2-3 Region 8-5A) jumped out to 3-0 lead before Jackson County (8-6, 2-1 Region 8-5A) eventually cut the score to 5-3 in the sixth on a Justin Mills RBI single bringing up the tying run as well.
But the Panthers went down in order in the seventh.
Brody Strickland took the loss for the Panthers, giving up five runs (two earned) on three hits in four innings. He fanned three and walked three.
Cooper Galley, Colin Price, and Mills each drove in one run for Jackson County.
Preston Wilson had two hits for Jackson County.
LOGANVILLE 10,
HABERSHAM CENTRAL 0
The third-ranked Red Devils held the Raiders to just four hits and walked just one in taking a series-opening win over the Raiders on Monday.
It was the second straight Region 8-5A loss for the Raiders (8-8, 2-3 Region 8-5A). The two teams will close out their two-game series on Wednesday in Mt. Airy.
On Monday, Loganville (10-3, 2-0 Region 8-5A) scored in every inning against starter Lucas Machado (1.1I, 5H, 4BB, 5ER) and Micah Huff (2.1I, 8H, 5ER), piling up 10 hits, five for extra bases.
Maverick Chitwood, Mason Witt, Kreed Barrett, and Huff each had one hit for Habersham Central.
LAKEVIEW ACADEMY 5,
PINECREST ACADEMY 4
Lakeview improved to 8-1 on the season with a win at home on Monday. It also avenged their only loss on the season to Pinecrest last week.
The Lions scored two runs in the third and three in the fourth and then held on as Pinecrest got the potential go-ahead run to the plate.
Beau Day got the win in relief tossing four-plus innings, allowing three hits and four walks but no earned runs while also striking out four. Nolan Idol got the save striking the final batter to wnd the game.
Hunter Williams and Day each had two hits for Lakeview.
The Lions next will play host to Cristo Rey Atlanta on Wednesday.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCOREBOARD FOR MONDAY, March 17
Buford 10, Rabun Gap 0 (6 inn)
Clarke Central 6, Jackson County 3*
Gainesville 8, Lanier 1*
Lakeview Academy 5, Pinecrest Academy 4
Loganville 10, Habersham Central 0 (5 inn)*
West Forsyth 8, North Forsyth 7*
(* -- denotes region contest)
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