In the Class A state championship series, Providence Christian split two games with host Charlton County to force a Game 3 today. The Stars won Game 2 15-8 after losing Game 1 6-3.
The second game turned in the fifth inning when Providence Christian exploded for seven runs to take a commanding 13-7 lead. Austin Loyd and Max Broom each had two-run singles while Josh Carter and Eric Stahl also had RBIs.
Austin Golden had a homer and four RBIs in Game 2.
In Game 1, Charlton County started the top of the first inning with three straight hits. Drew Storen capped the rally with a two-run single to give the Indians a 2-0 lead.
In the third inning, the Stars tied the game on an RBI single by Loyd and a wild pitch. Two errors in the fifth allowed the Indians to re-take the lead at 3-2.
Chris Smith drilled a two-run homer in the sixth to break the game open. Smith also tossed a complete game for the Indians to earn the win with three earned runs on five hits. Smith struck out eight.
Stahl had an RBI single for Providence Christian.
Game 3 will be played Friday at 1 p.m. in Folkston.
CLASS AA
Byron Buxton tossed a complete game in Game 3 of the Class AA championship series and struck out 18 while scoring twice to lead Appling County (35-8) to the state title with a 6-4 win over Pierce County. The host Pirates scored four runs off Pierce County (30-9) starter Will Lowman, chasing the Game 1 winner after recording just one out.
After striking out the side in the top of the first, Buxton opened up the bottom of the frame with a bunt. He advanced to third on a poor throw to first base. He would score on Josh Barber’s single. Buxton would later score his second run of the game after walking in the fourth inning. The Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year promptly stole second base, then went to third on a throwing error. Buxton was able to score on a wild pitch. Devin Causey and Kyle Miller each drove in a pair of runs and Jeremy Ammons scored twice for the Pirates.
Buxton was just as sharp on the mound, recording 15 strikeouts through the first five innings. He ran into a bit of trouble in the fourth when a run scored on a passed ball. Pierce County’s Cole Dowling scored that run and then drove in two in the seventh inning. Buxton recovered to record a season-high 18 strikeouts in his final high school game in helping the Pirates to the title.
It is the first baseball state title in Appling County’s history.
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