Baseball scoreboard: Branch clinches 2nd in 8-4A; Dawson grabs playoff spot; EJackson makes playoff case

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — There was no margin for error for Flowery Branch if it wanted to secure a home playoff series in the upcoming Class 4A state playoffs.

The Falcons needed a sweep of Walnut Grove in the two teams’ season-ending doubleheader on Friday to finish second in Region 8-4A. They got it with 2-0 and 9-1 victories at the Hog Mountain Sports Complex

In the first game, Javi Ojeda picked the right time for his best outing of the season, tossing a no-hitter and striking out seven for the Falcons (16-10, 10-5 Region 8-4A).

Luke Stone gave Ojeda all he would eventually need, driving in a run in the fourth on a RBI groundout. Antonio De La Torre Mariscal drove in a run in the fifth with a double to left.

Riley Bourrie had two hits for Branch in the first game.

In the second game, Parker Bourrie, De La Torre Mariscal, and Stone each had two RBI as the Falcons pounded out seven hits to go with 8 walks by Warriors’ (18-11, 8-7 Region 8-4A) pitching.

Branch scored four runs in the second and three in the third to take control. Walnut Grove got its only run in third.

Riley Castaneda got the win scattering three hits and giving up just one run in 5 2/3 innings.

DAWSON COUNTY 8,
LUMPKIN COUNTY 7

There were three lead changes and two ties in the first four innings, but the Tigers got the final lead in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Jacson Rickett.

Case Gravitt took over from there. Gravitt retired 8 of the last 9 Indians batters and got the win pitching 4 2/3 innings in relief. He struck out six.

The Indians (17-13, 10-11 Region 6-3A) took a quick 3-0 in the first taking advantage of two Dawson County errors. The Tigers pulled within 3-2 in the top of the third but Lumpkin County scored three more in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Adian Rogers and a RBI double from Grant Hallman for a 6-2 lead.

But Dawson County exploded for five runs in the fourth, with Elijah Odom driving in two on a single and Dylan Edwards capping the big inning with a RBI single for a 7-6 lead.

Lumpkin County tied it at 7 in the bottom of the inning but would get just two more baserunners the rest of the way.

The win gave Dawson County (16-14, 11-10 Region 6-3A) the final guaranteed playoff spot from Region 6-3A. Despite the loss, Lumpkin County is expected to still qualify for the Class 3A playoffs. The Indians came into the game in 20th in Postseason Rankings poll.

NORTH HALL 4,
CHESTATEE 0

The Trojans completed the sweep against their arch-rivals to close out the regular season for both teams.

Branson Crawford and Mills Lothridge combined on a three-hitter and fanned nine for the game.

Ty Kemp, Lothridge, and Campbell Payton each drove in one run for the game for North Hall (22-6, 18-3 Region 6-3A), who won its fifth straight game heading into the state playoffs.

North Hall scored single runs in the first and third and two in the fifth for some breathing room.

Eli Chaffin took the loss for Chestatee, allowing three runs on four hits and fanning four in four innings.

Cort Hagerman, Trenton Eaton, and Carter Edmondson each had one hit for Chestatee.

EAST JACKSON 12,
HART COUNTY 9

The Eagles, who came in sitting 27th in Class 2A PSR poll coming into their season finale, made a strong case for a postseason berth, rallying for the win at home.

The Bulldogs led 4-0 after just seven batters on home runs from Pearce Mewborn and Coleman Moore. East Jackson would eventually take a 12-6 lead in the fifth after scoring four runs each in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, Reed Cassidy homered and Brooks Saunders, Bryse Patterson singled, and Nick Carpenter all drove in runs as well.

In the fifth, Saunders tripled in three runs to highlight to big inning.

Saunders also got the win for the Eagles, giving up six runs on nine hits in five innings.

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