GHSA semifinal recaps (Saturday's games)

Posted 5/16/2021

Wesleyan's James McCoy (13) celebrates after scoring a run in Game 1 of Wesleyan's semifinal series at Athens Christian on Saturday.

 

GHSA semifinal recaps from Saturday's games.

Class 5A

Ware County at Starr's Mill

G1: Ware County 6, Starr's Mill 5

G1: Starr's Mill 12, Ware County 2

In Fayetteville, Ware County and Starr's Mill split their best-of-three semifinal series Saturday evening and will play the third and deciding game Monday at 4:30 p.m.

In Game 1, Ware County (22-12) scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead, then starter Noah Hooks shut down Starr's Mill in the bottom of the seventh as the Gators won 6-5. Hooks, who earned the complete-game victory, allowed five runs (two earned) on eight hits. His sacrifice fly in the seventh scored Jett Justice to tie, then later in the inning, Trey Jeffers' RBI double scored Caleb Stewart for the go-ahead run. Jeffers and Stewart each finished with three hits and two RBIs to lead the offense. Sean White finished 2-for-3 with a double to lead Starr's Mill (28-11).

In Game 2, Ware County managed little off Starr's Mill pitcher Daniel Courtney while the Panthers scored 12 runs off eight hits to defeat the Gators in six innings. White finished 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs, while Josh Tate finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Carter Barnes finished with two of Ware's three hits off Courtney.

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Class 4A

Bainbridge at Marist

G1: Marist 2, Bainbridge 1

G1: Marist 9, Bainbridge 2

In Atlanta, Marist returned to the state championship series for the first time since 2017 after sweeping Bainbridge Saturday afternoon in the Class 4A semifinals. The War Eagles, who won the Class 4A title in 2017, will meet Benedictine in an all-Catholic private school final. The state championship series is scheduled to begin Thursday with a doubleheader at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville at 5 p.m. 

The War Eagles will be seeking their GHSA-leading 14th state baseball championship.

In Game 1, the War Eagles used a two-run fifth inning to overcome an early 1-0 deficit. Champ Davis' RBI double scored Andrew Buschmann to tie the game, then later in the inning, Thomas Rollauer's sacrifice bunt scored Davis for the go-ahead run. Davis finished 2-for-4 at the plate. Preston Larmore earned the victory on the mound, going five innings. He allowed a run on four hits before yielding to Andrew Williams who worked the final two innings for the save.

In Game 2, Marist (31-8) took command early, building a 6-0 advantage and coasting to an easy victory to sweep the series. Pitchers Ryan McTighe, Ty Siksta and Rollauer combined to allow just two runs on four hits. Davis went 2-for-5 with a double to lead the offense. Andrew Williams added a solo homer.

Quayde Hawkins finished 2-for-2 with an RBI double to lead the Bearcats, who finished their season with a 28-5 record.

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Benedictine at North Oconee

G1: Benedictine 6, North Oconee 5

G1: Benedictine 9, North Oconee 0

In Bogart, Benedictine advanced to the state championship series for the second time in four seasons after sweeping North Oconee Saturday afternoon. The Cadets, who won a state title while playing in 2A in 2018, will play Marist in the best-of-three state championship series that is scheduled to begin Thursday with a doubleheader at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville at 5 p.m. 

In Game 1, the Cadets (33-4) bested North Oconee star pitcher Bubba Chandler, overcoming a 3-0 deficit in the fourth inning to grab a 6-3 lead. Most of the damage was done by Vanderbilt signee Carter Holton, who had a bases-clearing double. George Mullen earned the victory in relief of starter Trent Markiton.

In Game 2, Holton hurled a one-hitter and struck out 14 in a complete-game victory. Cody Cowan went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, while Kam Edge had two hits and an RBI to lead the Cadets on offense.

North Oconee finished its season at 31-6 after losing in the state semifinals for the second straight year.

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Class 3A

Appling County at Franklin County

G1: Franklin County 2, Appling County 1

G1: Franklin County 1, Appling County 0

In Carnesville, Appling County's Cinderella-run through the postseason ended when Franklin County (35-3) took a pair of games Saturday evening to sweep the Pirates and advance to the Class 3A state championship series. The Lions, winners of 17 in a row, will play North Hall in the Class 3A state championship series at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville. The series begins on May 22 with a best-of-three doubleheader at 5 p.m. 

In Game 1, Garrett Garner's walk-off RBI single scored Lawson Gailey in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 1-all tie and help Franklin County to a 2-1 victory. Gailey outdueled Appling County starting pitcher Thomas Higgins for the victory. The right-handed Gailey allowed one run on six hits, while Higgins allowed two runs on five hits in seven and two-thirds innings. The two pitchers also finished with two hits apiece to lead their offenses.

In Game 2, Franklin's Kayne Jinks hurled a one-hit shutout and struck out 12 to help the Lions sweep. Garner's sacrifice fly in the fourth inning scored AJ Peeples for the game's only run. Garner finished with two hits. Appling County pitcher Harrison simmons was stung with a hard-luck loss. He allowed just a run on seven hits while striking out eight in a complete game.

Appling County ends its season with a 17-15 record.

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North Hall at Ringgold

G1: North Hall 10, Ringgold 2

G1: North Hall 3, Ringgold 1

In Ringgold, North Hall swept past Ringgold Saturday evening to return to the state championship series for the first time since 2017. The Trojans, who won a state championship that year, will face Franklin County in the Class 3A state championship series at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville. The series begins on May 22 with a best-of-three doubleheader at 5 p.m. 

In Game 1, North Hall pitcher Jaret Bales allowed just two runs on two hits to earn the complete-game victory on the mound.  The Trojans (31-5) scored four runs in the top of the first and never looked back. Jay Johnson, Jace Bowen, Eli Reece, Hudson Barrett and Luke Erickson finished with two hits each to lead North Hall's offensive attack. Bradford Puryear finished with a three-run homer and four RBIs. McCain Mangum had both of Ringgold's hits, including an inside-the-park homer.

In Game 2, Bales finished with two hits, including a solo homer, and a double, while Elii Reece and Tate Brooks added RBI singles as the Trojans took a 3-1 victory. Colin Mountjoy's solo homer was Ringgold's only run. Reece allowed just a run on three hits to earn the complete-game win on the mound. He finished with eight strikeouts.

Ringgold ended its season with a 29-8.

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Class 1A Public

 

Metter at Charlton County

G1: Metter 7, Charlton County 5

G1: Metter 9, Charlton County 1

In Folkston, Metter swept past Charlton County to earn a trip to the Class 1A Publc state championship series where they will meet the winner of the ACE Charter-Gordon Lee series winner. The state championship series is scheduled to begin May 21 with a doubleheader at Grayson Stadium in Savannah at 5 p.m.

Metter (27-8) scored two runs in the top of the seventh to break a 5-all tie and take Game 1 with a 7-5 victory. Brendan Wood's RBI single scored Kaliq Jordan for the go-ahead run, then Randan Rigdon earned the victory in relief. John Luke Glanton, worked the first four innings and got a no-decision. Glanton, Kaliq Jordan, Wood and Antoine Deloach had two hits apiece. The loss spoiled a 2-for-3 (two doubles) performance from Charlton County's Shacario Bailey.

In Game 2, Metter pitchers Brian Crooms and Rustan Rigdon combined to allow Charlton County just a run on three hits. Crooms worked the first bsix innings while Rigdon worked a scoreless seventh. A two-run double by Deloach, a two-run single from Rustan Rigdon and an RBI double from Reco Coney highlighted a six-run second inning as the Tigers built an eight-run lead and they never looked back. Rustan Rigdon and Coney led the Tigers with two hits each. Jordan smacked a two-run homer in the first inning.

Charlton County finishes its season at 30-8.

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ACE Charter at Gordon Lee

G1: ACE Charter 3, Gordon Lee 2

G1: Gordon Lee 10, ACE Charter 0

In Chickamauga, ACE Charter ended Gordon Lee's 23-game winning streak and handed the two-time defending champion Trojans their first loss of the postseason in a 3-2 setback in Game 1. But Gordon Lee (34-3) struck back to win Game 2, 10-0, and force a deciding Game 3 on Monday at 5 p.m.

Trailing 2-0, Blake's Smith's RBI single in the sixth inning scored Gavin West, then Lem Thompson scored on an error to tie the game. West's RBI single in the seventh scored Sam Whitley for the go-ahead run. ACE starting pitcher Fisher Timms worked a scoreless bottom of the seventh to earn the complete-game victory on the mound. He allowed two runs on four hits. West finished 2-for-4 with a double an an RBI. Cade Peterson finished with two of Gordon Lee's four hits in Game 1.

But in a five-inning victory in Game 2, ACE Charter (33-5) managed just four hits off Gordon Lee pitcher Bo Rhudy. Cody Thomas went 3-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Trojans' five-hit attack. 

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Class 1A Private

 

Mount Paran Christian at Fellowship Christian

G1: Mount Paran Christian 17, Fellowship Christian 2

G1: Mount Paran Christian 3, Fellowship Christian 2

In Roswell, Mount Paran Christian clinched a spot in the state championship series for the first time since 2014 with a sweep of Fellowship Christian on Saturday. The Paladins will play Wesleyan for the Class 1A Private state title Friday at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville with a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m.

Mount Paran (27-4) finished with 10 hits in 17-2 rout in Game 1. Luke Dotson allowed two runs on two hits and struck out six in a complete-game victory. Tyler Minnick and Josh Fitzpatrick finished with two hits each to lead the Eagles. Both had two-run homers. Dotson added a bases-clearing triple in the game. Fellowship's only offense came off a two-run homer from David Bishop.

In Game 2, it took nine innings for Mount Paran to eliminate the Paladins when Cam Collier's solo homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth helped Mount Paran sweep the series. Collier finished 2-for-4. Reliever Jake Tucker earned the victory in relief of starter Jake Tucker who went eight innings. 

Andrew Davidson went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI to lead Fellowship, who ends its season at 25-8.

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Wesleyan at Athens Christian

G1: Wesleyan 6, Athens Christian 4

G1: Wesleyan 9, Athens Christian 4

In Athens, Wesleyan won its 24th and 25th straight games and punched its ticket to the Class 1A Private state championship series with a sweep of Athens Christian on Saturday. The Wolves are back in the state championship for the first time since 2016 when they finished as the Class 2A state runner-up. They will meet Mount Paran Christian for the Class 1A Private state title Friday at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville with a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. 

After Athens Christian took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning of Game 1, Wesleyan battled back to tie with four runs in the top of the fourth, then added a run each in the fifth and sixth innings to take control. Bryce Hubbard and Luke Carroll each went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs to lead the Wolves' offense. Grant Guest's three-run homer highlighted Athens Christian's four-run third inning.

Wesleyan ran away in Game 2, taking a five-run lead and never looking back. Joe Chatham led Wesleyan going 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, while Druw Jones, Cooper Blauser and Carroll finished with two hits each. 

Ben Pethel, Russell Clifton, Guest, Andrew Gillespie and Abhi Shah led Athens Christian (25-11) with two hits apiece.