BASEBALL PLAYOFFS: Top performances thus far

As the GHSA baseball season wraps up over the next few days, several playoff performances stand out from the action we’ve seen over the past few weeks. Appling County’s Byron Buxton’s efforts at the plate and on the mound certainly stick out, as do the accomplishments of Brookwood’s Lucas Sims, but several other players have carved out a spot in playoff lore with their huge performances.

Pierce County pitcher Will Lowman tossed a no-hitter in Game 1 of the Bears’ semifinal series against Lovett. Lowman struck out eight in the victory. His hitless streak extended into the sixth inning of Game 1 against Appling County.

Kyle Carter, who hit a pair of home runs in the first-round sweep of Arabia Mountain, played perhaps his finest game of this postseason in Game 1 of a second-round sweep of Harlem. Carter took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before the second ball put into play glanced off his glove for a single. Carter would finish with an 18-strikeout one-hitter. He also provided enough offense by doubling in the first inning and coming around in a three-run first inning.

Calvary Day’s Ryan Lawlor had everything going his way in Game 1 of the team’s quarterfinals series against Savannah Christian. Despite pitching in the shadow of LSU-bound Hunter Newman, Lawlor went seven innings, striking out 11 and giving up just one unearned run on one hit. He also went 3-for-3 at the plate with a triple and a run scored.

Andy Mochabee blasted a pair of home runs in the fourth inning of Game 3 against Gainesville in the semifinals to help Ringgold reach the Class AAA championship series. Mochabee contributed four RBIs in the frame to eliminate the Red Elephants and hand Gainesville just its second loss of the season.