Worth County won its second Region 1-A three-game series in four tries taking two of the three matchups with Brantley County.
The Herons (3-16 overall, 36) suffered through a one-hit shutout Tuesday, March 25 in the series opener with the Max-Preps 14th-ranked Rams (14-7, 6-6), who entered having dropped five of their previous six region games vs. No. 1 Jeff Davis and Fitzgerald.
The series shifted Friday, March 28 to Sylvester for a doubleheader. Brantley County, which had dropped three of its previous four games, recorded a 7-3 come-from-behind win in the opener. The Rams captured the nightcap 6-3.
BCHS has a five-game schedule this week with a three-game region series against Thomasville (6-15, 2-7) and a two-game series with MaxPreps fifth-ranked Charlton County (19-2), winners of 15 straight entering the week.
The Herons travel Tuesday, April 1 to Thomasville (6-15, 27). Charlton County visits Thursday April 3 for a 6:15 p.m. start.
The Bulldogs come to town Friday, April 4 for a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. Brantley County travels Saturday, April 5 to Folkston for a 1:30 p.m. first pitch.
BCHS faces Bacon County in the next to last week of the regular season. Game 1 is set for Tuesday, April 8 in Caney Bay at 6 p.m. The Red Raiders will host a doubleheader Friday, April 11 starting at 4 p.m.
Game 1 No. 14 Worth County......8 Herons ..........................0
CANEY BAY — Jackson Rowell’s one-out single in the second inning the lone base hit for Brantley County in the series opener.
Worth County starter Avery Kilcrease worked 6.1 innings with Colby Griffis getting the final two outs. They combined for eight strikeouts and walked two.
After both teams stranded a runner in the first inning, the Rams had runners at second and third in the second inning with one out against Kaden Hendrix (3.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 5 K, 3 BB, 1 WP).
Hendrix escaped the jam when the lead runner was tagged out attempting to steal home. A strikeout ended the inning.
Rowell’s first-pitch single with one out in the second was followed by an inning-ending double play. Brantley County had two base runners over the final five innings.
Worth County broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third getting a leadoff single, stolen base and one-out runscoring single for the 1-0 lead.
The visitors extended the lead of 5-0 with a four-run fourth. Consecutive walks to start the inning were followed by two quick outs.
An error extended the inning opening the door for four unearned rus. A first-pitch, bases clearing hit and a run-scoring double provided Worth County with a 5-0 lead.
A Hayden Hickox two-out walk in the fifth ended a stretch of 10 straight Brantley County batters retired.
The Rams tacked on three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Consecutive one-out singles off Gaven Grafford (3.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 4 K, 0 BB) were followed by a two-base error allowing both runners to score. A two-out error plated the final run.
Hendrix, who reached in the first on a two-out error, battled back from an 0-2 hole to draw a leadoff walk to start the seventh for BCHS’s lone base runner of the inning.
Game 2 Herons...........................7 No. 14 Worth County......3
SYLVESTER — A two-out, run-scoring infield hit by Grafford in the sixth inning broke a 2-all tie and the Herons added four runs in the seventh to turn back Worth County.
Tied at 2-all, BCHS got a leadoff walk from Hickox (1for-3), who was sacrificed to second by Eli Nielson (1-for-3). After Colt Thrift’s (2-for-5) first-pitch, two-out single kept the inning alive, Grafford’s (3for-3) ensuing infield hit plated Hickox for the 3-2 lead.
Brantley County sent eight batters to the plate in the seventh inning scoring four times after the Rams stranded the tying run in the sixth.
Clark Carter (1-for-3) reached on a leadoff single with Cain Roberson (1-for-1) following with a four-pitch walk. Rowell’s (1-for-4) ensuing sacrifice bunt was thrown away allowing Carter to race home from second and Roberson to reach third stretching the margin to 4-2.
Hickox followed with a runscoring hit, stole second and scored with Rowell on Nielson’s two-run single extending the lead out to 7-2.
Worth County got one run back in the bottom of the inning against Kent Thomas (6+ IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 K, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 1 WP). Brody Howell (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB) came on to get the final three outs.
The Rams, who left three on base during their first two at bats, broke through with two runs in the third on a one-out, run-scoring single and a bases loaded hit batter in taking a 20 lead.
Brantley County tied the game in the fifth at 2-all. Thomas (1-for-4) lined a oneout single and was removed for Tallin Collins. After Thrift followed with an eight-pitch infield hit, Grafford’s ensuing single loaded the bases.
Hendrix worked a walk forcing home Collins. A two-out single by Roberson plated Thrift to even the score.
Game 3 No. 14 Worth County......6 Herons...........................3
SYLVESTER — The Rams used a pair of three-run innings to take the nightcap with BCHS.
Worth County posted its first three-run rally in the second after nailing a Heron runner at the plate for the final out of the inning.
The Rams scored on a tworun single and two-base error that followed a leadoff hit batter and double against Hendrix (6 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 7 K, 0 BB, 2 HBP). The runner was able to avoid the tag at the plate on an ensuing ground for a 3-0 lead.
Brantley County chipped away at the deficit tying the game at 3-apiece in the fourth. The Herons scored twice in the third inning to close to within 3-2.
Thomas (2-for-3) lined a leadoff single with Grafford drawing a one-out walk. Backto- back two out walks to Carter loaded the bases and Howell forced home Thomas. Grafford scored one offering later on a wild pitch pulling the Herons to within a run.
Carson Goger and Hickox opened the fourth with consecutive walks. A pickoff attempt at first and an ensuing errant throw across the diamond allowed Coger to race home tying the game at 3-apiece.
Worth County plated three unearned runs in the bottom of the inning taking advantage of two BCHS errors. A one-out single was followed by the first miscue. A three-base error allowed the base runners to score for a a 5-3 lead. An ensuing groundout pushed home the final run.
Brantley County threatened in the seventh. A leadoff base hit by Thomas ended a stretch of nine straight batters retired. A two-out walk to Hendrix brought the tying run to the plate before the final out was recorded.
