Pierce County wrapped up its last week before embarking in Region 3-AA play recording a pair of wins at Vidiala and against visiting Toombs County.
PCHS (8-3), ranked No. 6 in Class AA by Max-Preps, won for the third time in four games turning back the Class A DI 21st-ranked Indians 7-2 Tuesday, March 4 in Vidalia. The victory gave the Bears a sweep of the season series after posting a 11-4 home decision February 11.
The Bears blanked visiting 20th-ranked Class A DI Toombs County 7-0 Friday, March 7 for a season split in the series with their second shutout in three games. The Bulldogs (6-6), who had won three of their last four games, held off PCHS 8-5 Wednesday, February 26 after storming out to an 8-0 lead in the first two innings.
Pierce County opens Region 3 action this week with a three-game series against 29th-ranked Tattnall County. The Warriors visited Tuesday, March 11 and come back to Bearville Friday, March 14 for a 6 p.m., start in the series finale. The middle game is slated for Thursday, March 13 in Reidsville at 6 p.m.
PCHS tangles with 16th-ranked Appling County the following week. The Tuesday, March 18 and Friday, March 21 games are scheduled for Baxley at 6 p.m. Game 2 of the series will be played Thursday, March 20 in Bearville at 6 p.m.
No. 6 Bears ..............7 No. 21 Vidalia ..........2
VIDALIA — PCHS used a four-run second inning to break away from a 1-all tie en route to beating the Indians.
Jones Herrin (4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 K, 3 BB) and Emmitt Hall (3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 K, 0 BB) combined to shut down the Vidalia bats.
PCHS scored in its first at bat. After Herrin was drilled by a one-out pitch, Hall (2-for-4) blasted a run-scoring double two pitches later into the leftcenter gap.
The Indians would answer in the bottom of the frame. A leadoff single, stolen base and passed ball moved the runner to third. A one-out, run-scoring groundout evened the score at 1-apiece.
Pierce County took advantage of two errors in the top of the second to score four times for a 5-1 lead.
Dylan Figueroa’s leadoff grounder to third was booted with Jack McClellan (1-for-4) following with a single. Mark Sweet’s ensuing sacrifice bunt was misplayed scoring Figueroa.
Beck Hodges (1-for-3) blooped a run-scoring base hit to right plating McClellan for a 3-1 lead. After Sweet and Hodges moved up 90 feet on a passed, Sweet scored on a wild pitch. Hodges later scored on a two-out single by Hall for a 5-1 advantage.
The Bears pushed across their final two runs in the fourth inning. Chance Williams drew a one-out walk and raced to third when Jones reached on a dropped third strike.
Williams scored on a passed ball with Herrin racing around to third. He scored on Jonathon Stone’s (1-for-4) two-out double.
PCHS had two base runners over its final three trips to the plate. Williams was hit by a oneout pitch in the sixth and Braxton McCook (1-for-1) lined a one-out double in the seventh.
Vidalia, which stranded three runners from the second inning through the sixth inning, chased home a run in the seventh. A two-out error extended the inning and was followed by a run-scoring double.
No. 6 Bears ..............7 No. 20 Toombs Co. ..0
BEARVILLE — Jaxton Harris threw five innings of no-hit ball and the Bears finished with a onehit shutout of the Bulldogs.
Harris (5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 9 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 1 WP) retired the first eight batters (four on strikes) before allowing the first base runner. He retired seven of the last eight batters he faced.
Stone (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB) and Brantley Willis (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB) finished up.
PCHS scored the only runs it would need in the first inning. Williams (1for-3) legged out a leadoff infield hit. He stole second and moved to third on a fly ball to left.
Stone (1-for-2) walked and was removed for courtesy runner Dylan Johnson, who stole second. McCook’s ensuing two-out grounder to third was booted scoring Williams. Figueroa (1-for-2) followed with a laser single to left plating Johnson for a 2-0 lead.
The Bears added a run in its half of the second. Sweet drew a leadoff walk and raced to third when Hodges’ sacrifice bunt was thrown away. Herrin’s (1-for-4) one-out grounder chased Sweet home for a 3-0 lead.
Pierce County scored twice in the third extending the margin to 5-0. Stone ripped a leadoff double and was removed for Johnson, who moved to third on a passed ball ahead of a walk to Mc-Cook.
After McCook moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, McClellan’s (1-for-3) one-out grounder was thrown away allowing both runners to score.
PCHS added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Figueroa was hit by a one-out pitch, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on McClellan’s single in the fifth for a 6-0 advantage.
After losing the no-hit bid with a leadoff single in the sixth off a 1-2 offering, the Bears came right back with their final run.
Williams worked a leadoff walk, tagged and moved to second on a fly ball to right ahead of Hall getting hit by a one-out pitch. A walk to Stone loaded the bases. Williams scored one pitch later on a passed ball.
