Sports

Pats clip Trojans in barnburner

• Westover barely edges a tough Dougherty team, 14-10, on Tuesday in a Region 1-AAA elimination game for the Trojans.

Staff Reports

ALBANY — Westover won Round 2 on Tuesday — and unfortunately for Dougherty, that means lights out.

The Patriots defeated city-rival Dougherty, 14-10, in the second Region 1-AAA battle of the season to complete the sweep, and consequently end the hope of the state playoffs for the Trojans.

“It was a shootout, but we needed to have this one. Absolutely needed it,”said Dougherty coach Dexter Malone, whose team fell to 9-12 overall and 2-7 in conference play, meaning the Trojans will miss the playoffs one season after reaching them following a five-year drought. “But errors in the field killed us — we pitched great, hit great — but mistakes hurt, and you can’t win like that.”

Examples of the Trojans’ strong bats came alive early when they posted four runs in the second inning, led by Rico Watts and Felton Walls.

But answering right back were the Patriots, who added eight runs in the bottom of the inning, led by Ryan Cauley and Brandon Lee.

And that kind of resilience brought a smile to Patriots coach Steve Bowers.

“It’s just nice to see the young guys growing up,” Bowers said. “We’ve lost some heartbreakers, but they continue to learn the game and come out and play hard. We’re ready for the playoffs.”

Lance Shernisky picked up the win on the mound in two innings of relief.

The Patriots (16-7, 5-3) are scheduled to play Monroe on Thursday before taking to the road for their first playoff game next Friday against a team to be determined. Dougherty plays again Thursday at Worth County.

LEE COUNTY 10, VALDOSTA 3

It only took one inning for the Trojans express to rack up another victim.

The Trojans scored eight runs in the sixth inning to comeback for a 10-3 win at home against Valdosta on Tuesday.

Lee County (16-8) has now won 13 of its last 14 games.

Valdosta helped out the Trojans by walking 10 batters in the game and four in the decisive sixth inning.

But the Trojans had five hits in the sixth, including back-to-back doubles by Matt Aldrich and Easton Glover.

Aldrich picked up the win for Lee. He pitched six innings, striking out two and walking five.

“He pitched out of trouble,” coach Rob Williams said. “He just battles.” Tyler Knight came on in the seventh and struck out the side. Lee County has already wrapped up the Region 1-AAAA title, but finishes its region slate with a doubleheader Thursday at Bainbridge.

BACONTON CHARTER 10, BACON COUNTY 9 (9)

The Baconton Charter Blazers proved they are ready for the playoffs.

In a game to decide the third seed out of Region 1-A, the Blazers came from four runs down in the final two innings to send it into extras then Chance Thompkins hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth to pull out a dramatic 10-9 win.

“This shows us that we can come from behind and win,” Blazers coach Bubber Birdsong said. “And maybe we can win when we don’t feel we play as good as we can.”

Baconton (19-5) played with no caution in the seventh, as Preston Maier stole home with two outs to tie the game at 9-9.

From there, pitcher Tyler Pinson held on. Pinson got into trouble early giving up eight runs in the first two innings, but pitched all nine.

“We got in a groove and Tyler gave us a chance,” Birdsong said. “It was a lot of fun.”

Baconton’s next game will be May 9 at the No. 2 seed out of Region 3-A in the state playoffs.

TERRELL ACADEMY 9, WESTWOOD 5

In the flash of one big third inning, the Terrell Academy Eagles were GISA Region 3-A champions.

Terrell scored six runs in the third on the way to a 9-5 win against Westwood and clinched the region title.

“That was their big inning,” Westwood coach Al Timmerman said. “They strung a couple hits, we made a couple errors. We were unable to come back with a big inning of our own. They put the bat on the ball and made us get it.”

The Eagles (12-2) are a perfect 7-0 in region this year. John Brock and Brady Copeland both doubled for Terrell. Christopher Hunter earned the win on the mound.

DEERFIELD 10, SHERWOOD 0, (5)

The Knights beat the Eagles for the final time of their two-game series in 2008 — not to mention it was the last meeting between the two longtime city rivals for at least two years.

“We wish Sherwood the best,” said DWS coach Rod Murray of the fact SCA has been moved down from Class AAA to AA. “Jay Flynt is doing a good job with that program and I’m sure they’ll have success down the road.”

Deerfield (13-1, 5-0), which dropped Sherwood from its 2008-09 sports schedule earlier this year, scored three runs in the first, two in the second and third and three in the fourth. Grant Massey (3-1) picked up the win and also went 3-for-3 at the plate.

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