Sports

Green has special moment in Baconton’s win vs. Pelham

• Baconton’s Vance Green’s doctor allows one final at bat after tearing his ACL last week, which Green turned into a key single during the Blazers’ win Tuesday vs. Pelham.

Staff Reports

BACONTON — Vance Green knew this was it.

So the senior left fielder stepped up to the plate for one last time in his high school career and legged out an infield hit on his injured knee — a torn ACL, to be exact — in Baconton Charter’s four-inning, 15-0 Region 1-A win against Pelham on Tuesday.

Green, who will get surgery on his injured knee Thursday, was told by his doctor that he could have one last plate appearance, before needing to sit out the rest of the season.

“It was a heck of an end to a career,” Baconton coach Bubber Birdsong said. “It was an emotional moment, especially since it was Senior Day.”

Green’s moment came in the bottom of the third inning and drove in a run for the Blazers.

It overshadowed a combined no-hitter from pitchers Jakie Williams – who struck out six in three innings – and James Davis.

With the win, the Blazers improved to 9-1 in the region and will travel to Calhoun on Thursday for another key region game.

If they win that game, it will set up a showdown against Seminole County next Monday to decide the region title.

LEE COUNTY 8, AMERICUS SUMTER 3

Lee County is on a roll with four wins in a row – and so is Jeremy Sheffield.

The Trojans’ lead-off hitter went 3-for-4 with five RBI in the key Region 1-AAAA win.

Easton Glover, Colt Glover and Tyler Knight each had two hits, while Brian Hegle and Taylor Howell added doubles.

Howell White (2-1) earned the victory on the mound. He allowed seven hits in 4 2/3 innings and struck out five.

“We’re playing better defense,” Lee County coach Rob Williams said about the winning streak. “Even though we had two errors tonight, Howell did a good job of pitching around them.”

The Trojans (8-7, 4-1) will be back in action Friday night when they host region opponent Bainbridge at 6 p.m.

CAIRO 4, WESTOVER 3

Westover had 11 hits but it was only two Cairo hits that put the Pats away.

The Syrupmakers tapped a pair of 3-2, 2-out home runs and sent the Patriots home heartbroken.

“That’s how it’s been,” Westover coach Steve Bowers said as his Patriots fell to 1-2 in Region 3-AAA, 10-5 overall. “We outplayed them in every way, except they hit two home runs.”

Lance Shernisky took the loss for the Patriots, who will try to bounce back Friday in a region matchup against Dougherty at 5 p.m. at Paul Eames Sports Complex.

TERRELL ACADEMY 9, FULLINGTON 5

Brady Copeland improved to 3-0 on the season as Chandler Farley and Chris Dean each bashed home runs to lift the Eagles to 6-2 overall and a perfect 3-0 in region.

CRISP ACADEMY 12, WESTWOOD 11

In a barnburner in every sense of the word, the Wildcats couldn’t overcome a bases-load, full-count shot by Crisp’s Dustin Dorsey to bring three runners home in the bottom of the seventh for the win.

Westwood was behind most of the game, despite a home run by Brett Shiver and Clark Phelps, but used an eight-run sixth to take the lead before Crisp’s late rally.

“We gave them a big third inning (when Crisp scored six runs), but we never gave up after that,” said Westwood coach Al Timmerman, whose team fell to 3-4 and 1-2 in region. “Just costly mistakes at the end.”

Westwood tries to get back on track Monday against Sherwood.

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