Team Georgia to play in bronze medal game

Posted 6/14/16

The Team Georgia Junior baseball team will play in the bronze medal game after splitting a pair of games Tuesday in the Sunbelt Classic.

The opponent and time for Wednesday's finale was unavailable.

The junior team finished with a 6-3 record in pool play. They lost to Team Arizona 6-2 in Tuesday's early game before rallying to beat Oklahoma Blue 5-2 in the afternoon contest.

Chase Patrick (Schley County) and Beau Jones (Mill Creek) combined to allow Oklahoma Blue just a pair of runs on three hits. Patrick was the winning pitcher, striking out six in five innings. Jones pitched two scoreless innings to earn the save.

Jake Arnold (Starrs Mill) gave Patrick an early cushion when he smashed a two-run homer in the first inning.

Chaz Bertolani (Johns Creek) went 2 for 4 with a double to pace the offense, while Garrett Marchman (Greenbrier) also added a double which scored two runs.

Brennan Crooms (Metter), Christian Avant (Tift County) and Lee Kay (Heard County) added singles. Patrick also added an RBI.

Team Georgia lost its one-run lead in the fifth inning when Team Arizona scored three runs to take the lead, then they added three more in the sixth and never looked back.

Austin Thompson (South Effingham) went 2 for 2 with an RBI to lead Team Georgia's six-hit attack. Avant, Kay, Marchman and Joah Curry (Locust Grove) all had singles. Avant had an RBI.