Baseball semifinals recaps

The semifinals of the baseball playoffs concluded Tuesday night with Parkview, Brookwood, Greenbrier, Loganville, Columbus, Ringgold, Pierce County, Charlton County and Providence Christian joining Monday’s winner, Appling County, in the finals. 

See below for our recaps:

Class AAAAA

Parkview 5, Mill Creek 0: Parkview senior Jessie Foster improved his record to 11-0 with a complete game shutout. Foster struck out six while allowing just three hits. The host Panthers were led at the plate by Edwin Arias, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI triple. Hunter Thornton got into the act with two hits and an RBI, while Josh Hart has two runs and an RBI. A three-run seventh broke it open for Parkview.

Class AAAA

Greenbrier 15, Whitewater 5: The host Wolf Pack crushed 15 hits, five of them doubles, on their way to a five-inning mercy ruled-shortened win. Christian Hill (7-1) pitched a complete game for Greenbrier, striking out five. At the plate for the Wolf Pack, Knox Marchman was 3-for-3 with three RBIs, Clint Hardy as 3-for-4 with three runs, and Taylor Glover was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs. Greenbrier scored four in the first, and nine runs in the first three innings.

Loganville 2-2, Johns Creek 1-1: Loganville won two games in the final inning Tuesday to advance to the Class AAAA finals series this weekend.

In Game 2 of the series, an RBI single by Justin Friend staked the visiting Gladiators a 1-0 lead. Daniel Milligan tied things in the bottom half of the inning, and the score remained tied until David Mayo’s sacrifice fly scored Kyle Hall to win it for Loganville in 10 innings. Garrett Ford started and threw eight innings for Loganville, before Mayo came on in relief.

Game 3 was won in walk-off fashion when Clint Frazier singled in two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Johns Creek had again started the game with a 1-0 lead after one inning on an RBI double by Friend.

The Red Devils will host Greenbrier in the finals.

Class AAA

Columbus 7, Troup 1: Senior Pierce Ressmeyer crushed a first-inning home run to help jumpstart a three-run frame, and the host Blue Devils were off and running. J.T. Phillips would drive in a run later in the game. A bit of controversy stirred in the fourth after Dalton Hadley hit a home run, but was called out for missing home plate. Columbus added some insurance in the seventh on a two-run double from junior Tony Dalponte. Columbus travels to Ringgold this Saturday seeking a third straight state title.

Ringgold 11, Gainesville 3: After the visiting Tigers put up a two-spot in the second inning, Gainesville battled back to tie the game in the fourth on a Hunter Anglin blast. The tie was short-lived though as Andy Mocahbee hit a pair of home runs to help Ringgold to an eight-run fourth to pull away. Austin Parrish tossed a complete game for the Tigers to earn the win. Gainesville finished the season 32-2, with both losses coming to Ringgold in the best-of-three semifinals.

Class AA

Pierce County 17, Lovett 7: After each team scored five runs by the top of the third inning, Pierce County seized control of the game when Drew Taylor connected on a three-run home run. After Lovett tried to bounce back, Nate Gay drilled a home run to push the lead to 12-7. The Lions squandered a bases-loaded chance in the fifth, and the Bears took advantage of two bases-loaded situations to pull away against the Lovett bullpen.

Class A

Charlton County 8, George Walton Academy 4: The host Indians fell behind 2-0 in the first then rallied for two runs each in the second, third and fourth innings. Charlton County added one run each in the next two innings to hold a commanding 8-4 lead. Chris Smith threw 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. Jacob Baxter had two RBIs and Richard Dasher went 2-for-3 three with an RBI for the Indians. The Bulldogs were led by Evan Alderman, who was 3-for-4.

Savannah Christian 5-6, Providence Christian 4-7: The Stars jumped out to a 3-0 lead at home over Savannah Christian in Game 2, but Erik Davis blasted a two-run home run and Bryce Evans would give the Raiders a 4-3 lead. After Providence Christian tied the game, Davis singled home the game-winning run. In Game 3, Christin Stewart tied a state record with his 69th career homer, giving the Stars an early lead. Savannah Christian would try to rally, but coach Adam Cantrell’s pitching staff closed out the victory.