GHSA baseball semifinals recaps

The GHSA Baseball semifinals are Friday and Monday – with possible ‘if’ Games Tuesday – to place teams into the championship series of the playoff brackets across each of the state’s eight classifications.

See the Class-by-Class recaps below.

Class 7A

Grayson 3, 0, Brookwood 2, 4 (Series tied 1-1)

Grayson used two RBIs from senior JD Smith and one RBI from junior Jaaden Nicholson to secure a 3-1 victory in the first game. Brookwood’s Mason Archie had three RBI’s in Game 2 alongside Max Rogozinki’s one RBI to tie the series at 1-1, forcing Monday’s Game 3.

Lowndes 10, 8, North Paulding 0, 5 (Lowndes sweeps)

Defending-champion Lowndes defeated North Paulding 10-0 in the first game and 8-5 in the second game to advance to the state championship series. The Vikings will try for the fourth state championship in program history after wins in 1981, 2000 and 2023.

Class 6A

Pope 7, 1, Houston County 4, 0 (Pope sweeps)

Pope will try for the program’s sixth state championship after moving past Houston County 7-4 in the first game and 1-0 in the second game. The Greyhounds won titles in 2009, 2013, 2017-18 and 2022.

Etowah 2, 4, Blessed Trinity 1, 0 (Etowah sweeps)

Etowah has a chance for the team’s second state championship and first since 2017 after beating Blessed Trinity 2-1 in the first game and 4-0 in the second game.

Class 5A

Loganville 5, 8, Kell 2, 2 (Loganville sweeps)

Loganville had a shot at the program’s eighth state championship and sixth in the past seven seasons after a sweep of Kell. Loganville opened with a 5-2 victory in the first game and closed the Longhorns out with an 8-2 victory in Game 2. Loganville awaits the winner of Monday’s series between Cartersville and Ware County. Loganville won titles in 2008, 2012, 2017-2019, 2022-23.

Cartersville 11, 10, Ware 2, 0 (Cartersville sweeps)

Cartersville will have a shot at the team’s seventh state championship but first since 2013 after moving past Ware County 11-2 in the first game and 10-0 in the second game. The Hurricanes won titles in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009 and 2013.

Class 4A

Cherokee Bluff 14, 3 Holy Innocents’ 4, 6 (Series tied 1-1)

Cherokee Bluff won the opening game 14-4 but Holy Innocents’ won the second game 6-3 to force Monday’s Game 3. Cherokee Bluff is trying for a championship berth and first-ever title while Holy Innocents’ wants the team’s second title and first since 2007.

Starr’s Mill 12, 13, North Oconee 8, 1 (Starr’s Mill sweeps)

Starr’s Mill moved past North Oconee 12-8 in the first game and 13-1 in the second game to secure a championship berth and chance for the program’s second state title and first since 2021.

Class 3A

Calvary Day 3, 12, 2, Mary Persons 4, 1, 0 (Calvary Day wins 2-1)

Mary Persons opened with a 4-3 victory in the first game of the series after scoring three runs in the top of the sixth inning. The Bulldogs gave up two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning but got the final out to secure the victory. Calvary Day forced a deciding Game 3 and took a 1-0 lead after the first inning before scoring seven runs in the top of the second inning to take control. The Cavaliers scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning to secure the win.

Harlem 6, 5, Oconee County 1, 3 (Harlem sweeps)

Harlem has a chance to defend last season’s title and win the program’s ninth after sweeping Oconee County. The Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and extended the lead, plating one run in the bottom of the third inning. The Bulldogs added two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure the Game 1 victory. Harlem swept the series with a 5-3 victory in the second game. Harlem won its first title in 1974 and won in 1978, 1979, 1981-83 and 1986, which was the team’s last championship before winning last season.

Class 2A

North Cobb Christian 11, 3, Rockmart 1, 2 (North Cobb Christian sweeps)

Defending-champion North Cobb Christian has a chance to win the program’s second title after moving past Rockmart 11-1 in the first game and 3-2 in the second game.

Appling County 2, 1, Mount Paran 1, 7 (Series tied 1-1)

Appling County won the first game 2-1 but Mount Paran won the second game 7-1 to force a decisive Game 3 Monday.

Class A Division I

Tallulah Falls 8, 8, King’s Ridge 7, 3 (Tallulah sweeps)

In Game 1, junior Chase Pollock had two hits and three RBIs, senior David Dutary had two hits and two RBIs, sophomore Ashton Roache had one hit and an RBI and junior Diego Gonzalez had two hits and one RBI to lead Tallulah in the opening game. Pollock pitched six innings and gave up 11 hits and seven runs while facing 11 batters. In the second game, the Indians plated seven runs in the first inning and one run in the top of the second inning then held on for the victory. Roache had two hits and three RBIs, Pollock had one hit and two RBIs, Dutary had two hits and two RBIs and junior BJ Carver had one hit and one RBI. Junior Andrew Skvarka pitched six innings, allowed eight hits and three runs in the win.

Prince Avenue Christian 13, 1, 10, Crawford County 0, 5, 0 (Prince Ave wins 2-1)

Prince Avenue has a chance for the program’s second-overall championship while defending last year’s title and a 10-0 victory in Game 3 proved the difference. Prince Avenue opened with a dominant 13-0 victory in the first game but Crawford replied with a 5-1 victory to forced a decisive Game 3.

Class A Division II

Charlton County 12, 7, Lake Oconee 1, 5 (Charlton County sweeps)

Charlton County has a chance to defend last year’s championship while capturing the program’s fourth after sweeping Lake Oconee Academy. Charlton opened with a 12-1 victory in the first game and a narrow 7-5 victory in the second game. Charlton won back-to-back titles in 2013-14 before last season’s championship victory. Charlton has been to the championship series in each of the past three seasons.

Lanier County 8, 7, Bowdon 5, 0 (Lanier County sweeps)

Sophomore Grant Gano had two hits and five RBIs to lead Lanier County to an 8-5 victory in Game 1. Junior Cayden Cook, sophomore Talen Tarbox and sophomore Stone Carey each had one RBI. Lanier won the second game 7-0 to advance to the state championship to try for the program’s first-ever state championship.

 

Tags: , ,

No comments yet.

Leave a Reply

*