Brantley County’s heart-breaking season continued with a pair of one-run losses in Region 1-A action during the four-game work slate The Herons’ (0-12 overall, 0-3 region), ranked 53rd in Class A DI by MaxPreps, dropped their region opener with Fitzgerald (6-6, 3-0), ranked 37th, falling 5-4 at home Tuesday, March 4. The win ended a sixgame losing streak for the Purple Hurricane.
Fitzgerald swept the Friday, March 7 seriesending twinbill taking Game 1 12-2 in five innings and Game 2 5-4. The loss in the nightcap extended Brantley County’s streak to nine consecutive one-run losses dating back to last season’s 4-3 victory March 25 against visiting Vidalia including 0-7 this year.
Visiting Cook (8-3), ranked 11th in Class AA, completed the season sweep of the Herons winning its third consecutive game with a 10-2 decision Thursday, March 6. The Hornets won the February 12 first meeting in Adel 11-1.
BCHS has an open week before diving into a four-game schedule beginning Tuesday, March 18 in Nashville against region foe Berrien. After finishing off the season series hosting Tattnall County, Thursday, March 20, the Rebels visit Friday, March 21 for a twinbill to finish up the three-game series.
Game 1 No. 37 Fitzgerald.....5 No. 53 Herons.........4
CANEY BAY — Fitzgerald rallied from an early 2-0 deficit scoring five consecutive runs to take the lead and then hung on for the victory.
The Herons struck for two runs in their first trip to the plate against Gabe Crubbs (7 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 6 K, 4 BB), who completed what he started on 112 pitches. Consecutive one-out walks to Eli Thomas and Carson Coger were followed by a Clark Carter (2-for-4) run-scoring single driving home Thomas. Jackson Rowell’s ensuing sacrifice fly to right plated Coger for a 2-0 lead.
Fitzgerald evened the score at 2-all in the top of the second against Gavin Grafford (4.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP) capitalizing on consecutive infield miscues after two outs and nobody on base. A hit batter kept the inning alive.
A three-base throwing error followed allowing the lead runner to race home cutting the deficit to 2-1. An ensuing error allowed the tying run to cross the plate.
The Hurricanes took the lead in the top of the third with two more runs. A leadoff single was followed by a run-scoring double two pitches later giving the visitors a 3-2 lead. A two-out, run-scoring single extended the margin to 4-2.
Fitzgerald scored a run in the fifth on a two-out single for a 5-2 advantage. A two-out single extended the inning, which was followed by a walk and what proved to be the game-winning hit.
Brody Howell silenced the Fitzgerald bats over the last 2.1 innings retiring seven of the nine batters he faced.
After having 11 of 12 batters retired, Carter’s leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth started a two-run rally for the Herons. Courtesy runner Tallan Collins raced to third when Rowell reached on a fielder’s choice grounder.
After a walk to Howell loaded the bases, Collins scored on a throwing error off an infield fly. A groundout by Grafford scored Rowell cutting the deficit to 5-4. The tying run was stranded at third when the final out of the inning was recorded.
Brantley County put the tying run on in the bottom of the seventh when Thomas drew a one-out walk.
No. 11 Cook ...........10 No. 53 Herons.........2
CANEY BAY — The Hornets broke away from a 3-2 lead with a sevenrun sixth inning to turn back Brantley County.
BCHS grabbed a 1-0 advantage in the second inning when Carter (1-for-3) blasted an 0-1 pitch for a leadoff homer.
Cook dented the plate with two runs in the top of the fourth against Rylee Young (3.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 K, 3 BB, 1 WP). A leadoff double, groundout and walk in the first three batters set up the inning.
A wild pitch scored the first run with a two-out double driving home the second for a 2-1 lead for the Hornets.
The visitors upped the margin to 3-1 with a run in the fifth against Cain Roberson (1.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 K, 2 BB, 2 HBP). Consecutive one-out walks and a run-scoring single gave Cook a tworun lead.
The Herons got the run back in the bottom of the inning. Kent Thomas (1for-3) lined a one-out single. He advanced to second on a passed ball and stole third.
Grafford’s (1-for-3) two-out popup was misplayed allowing Thomas to score cutting the deficit to 3-2. Brantley County would leave the bases loaded after a Colt Thrift walk and Eli Thomas getting hit by a pitch.
The Hornets came right back with a seven-run sixth with 12 batters coming to the plate. Cook only had two hits taking advantage of four walks, two hit batters and two errors to blow the game open against three pitchers (Roberson, Ellis Westover and Clark).
Game 2 No. 37 Fitzgerald....12 N0. 53 Herons .........2
FITZGERALD — The Purple Hurricane broke away from a 3-0 lead scoring nine times in the fourth inning to “mercy rule” BCHS.
Fitzgerald scored once in the first inning against Kaden Hendrix (3.1 IP, 9 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 3 K, 1 BB, 2 HBP) getting a one-out, run-scoring base hit, the third single in four batters.
After a 1-2-3 first for the Herons, they put two runners on in the second with back-to-back singles by Carter (1-for-2) and Rowell (1-for-2). They had a leadoff single off the bat of Grafford (1-for-2) in the third.
The Purple Hurricane plated two runs in the bottom of the inning on backto- back doubles. BCHS did retire a runner at the plate on a relay throw from Rowell to Grafford to Carter for the second out.
Fitzgerald batted around in the fourth with 12 coming to the plate against Hendrix and Howell (.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 K, 0 BB, 1 WP) with nine scoring blowing the game open in taking a 12-0 lead. Nine of the first 10 batters reached on six singles, a walk, hit batter and error.
Brantley County averted the shutout when Howell blasted a one-out, two-run first-pitch homer following a walk to Eli Thomas.
Game 3 No. 37 Fitzgerald......5 N0. 53 Herons .........4
FITZGERALD — Fitzgerald got the walk0ff win scoring the tie-breaking run on a one-out error in the bottom of the seventh.
The Herons overcame a 3-0 deficit with a four-run sixth in claiming a 4-3 lead. Carter (2-for-4) lined a first-pitch, leadoff single and was removed for Collins. After Hayden Hickox was hit by a oneout pitch, both runners advanced on a wild pitch.
Eli Nielson’s (1-for-1) pinch-hit single scored both pulling Brantley County to within 3-2. Kent Thomas (1-for-3) followed with a clutch double off an 0-2 pitch putting runners at second and third. Grafford’s two-run single three pitches later gave the Herons a 4-3 lead.
The Purple Hurricane tied the score at 4-all in the bottom of the frame on a two-out error, the second of the inning.
A leadoff hit batter in the bottom of the seventh was followed by a one-out single and an error giving Fitzgerald the win.
The Purple Hurricane scored a first inning run after escaping a bases loaded situation in the top half of the frame. Thrift (1for-4) reached on a oneout error, Coger (1-for-3) followed with a walk and Carter singled.
Fitzgerald scored on a two-out single against Kent Thomas (6.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 7 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 WP). The Purple Hurricane extended the margin to 3-0 in the third inning scoring on a oneout single and groundout.
