Ware County’s junior varisty jumped out to a 10-run lead in the first inning and cruised to a 16-1 laugher Wednesday over visiting Vidalia in the Gators’ lone action of the week.
The matchup was originally scheduled as a home-and-home series with a Monday, March 24 home tilt and a Wednesday, March 26 date in Vidalia.
Ware County (10-3-1) traveled Monday, March 31 to Jesup to face Wayne County. The Yellow Jackets visit Thursday, April 3 at 5 p.m.
The Gators wrap up their season Monday, April 7 with a doubleheader in Kingsland against Camden County.
Gators...........................16 Vidalia ............................1
The first 10 Ware County batters reached base and seven scored before the first out was recorded in the blistering of the Indians.
The Gators sent 16 batters to the plate recording four hits, four walks, four hit batters and a Vidalia error.
Four Gators reached twice in the inning. Keaton Holloway (1--for-2) had a leadoff base hit and a walk. Isaiah White (2-for-3) lined a single and was hit by a pitch. Tanner Lairsey (1-f0r-2) was hit by a pitch and singled. Asher Lee drew a walk and was hit by a pitch.
Two Vidalia pitchers combined for 59 pitches in the inning.
White had a run-scoring single to get the onslaught started. A two-run error followed. Trace Crosby (1-for-2) lined a bases loaded single for a 4-0 lead.
Sage Delk was gifted an RBI with a four-pitch walk, Brodie Burchett was hit forcing home a run and a wild pitch plated a run for a 7-0 lead ahead of the first out.
Lucas Howard followed with a run-scoring groundout, Lairsey lined a bases loaded single and Chaden Carter drove home the last run with a groundout extending the margin to 10-0.
The Indians pushed across their only run when Holloway (3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 K, 2 BB, 2 HBP, 1 WP) hit a batter with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the second.
Ware County scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to end the game via the “mercy rule.” The Gators sent 11 batters to the plate with eight reaching —seven via walk.
The lone hit was a two-run double by White giving Ware County a 13-1 lead. Howard was credited with a RBI on a bases loaded walk head of White’s hit.
Carter had a run-producing groundout and a couple of wild pitches allowed a pair of runs to race home.
