Pierce County swept its third threegame Region 3-AA series of the season and stretched its current winning streak to six games taking down Cook High in a Top 10 matchup.
The Bears (18-5 overall, 10-2 region), ranked second by ScoreAtlanta, and sixth by both MaxPreps and in the GHSA power rankings (fourth in each for public schools) won their fourth consecutive game and second straight by shutout blanking the Hornets (15-8, 3-5) 10-0 in five innings Tuesday, April 1.
The loss snapped Cook’s six-game winning streak. The Hornets entered the series ranked seventh by ScoreAtlanta, 13th by MaxPreps (ninth in public) and 14th in the power rankings (ninth public).
PCHS rallied in each of the final two games. The Bears overcame a two-run deficit scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh Thursday, April 3 at home to win 4-3. They overcame a 1-0 deficit Friday, April 4 in Adel scoring three times over the final two innings for a 3-1 victory.
Pierce County has a two-game series with Long County (13-9), losers in four of their last six games, in Ludowici Tuesday, April 8 and Wednesday, April 9 in the next to last week of the regular season. Both games begin at 4 p.m.
Washington County, 17-5 and currently riding a nine-game winning streak, visits Thursday, April 10 for a 1 p.m. first pitch. The game will be the fourth of the week for the Golden Hawks.
The Bears wrap up the regular season with a home-and-home series with Class 5A Coffee. The Trojans visit Tuesday, April 15 and host PCHS Thursday, April 17. Both games have 6 p.m. starts.
Game 1 No. 2 Bears ...............................10 No. 7 Cook..................................0
ADEL — Jones Herrin and Jonathan Stone combined for six hits and five runs batted in to back the three-hit shutout of Emmitt Hall.
Herrin went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Stone was 3-for-3 with a double driving in two runs. Chance Williams’ lone hit in three at bats was a tworun homer, his first of the season.
Hall, who threw 54 pitches over five innings and fanned five. He allowed a two-out single in the second, a one-out single in the fourth and a leadoff double in the fifth.
Pierce County broke the game open in its second at bat sending 10 players to the plate with five scoring. The Bears scored once in the third and ended the game with a pair of two-run innings in the fourth and fifth.
Most of the Bears’ damage in the second inning came after two outs and leading 1-0. Five consecutive batters reached helping plate the final four runs for the 5-0 lead.
Stone singled with one out and advanced to second on a passed ball before being removed for courtesy runner Garrett Stevenson. Mark Sweet (1-for-2) delivered a run-scoring single to center scoring Stevenson with the first run.
Following the second out, Jack McClellan (1-for-2) lined a single putting runners on the corners. After a walk to Williams loaded the bases, Herrin roped a bases clearing double to right-center for a 4-0.
Hall (2-for-4) followed with a single with Herrin reaching third. Dylan Johnson (2-for-4) reached on an infield hit plating Herring with the final run of the inning.
Stone led off the third with a firstpitch single and was removed for Stevenson, who moved to third on Sweet’s ensuing sacrifice bunt. Beck Hodges (1for-3) followed with run-producing single for a 6-0 advantage.
Herrin led off the fourth with a single. Dylan Figueroa’s (1-for-4) two-out double kept the inning alive. Stone followed three pitches later with a double driving in both runners increasing the margin to 8-0.
McClellan drew a one-out walk in the fifth with Williams blasting a two-run home on the ensuing pitch for the final runs of the game.
Game 2 No. 2 Bears.................................4 No. 7 Cook..................................3
BEARVILLE — McClellan scored the game-winning run from third base on a two-out, bases loaded infield hit by Stone in the bottom of the seventh inning.
McClellan opened the frame in a 3-all tie reaching on a dropped third strike. He moved into scoring position on a oneout passed ball and advanced to third on a groundout.
Cook intentionally walked Herrin and Johnson (1-for-3) loading the bases. Stone hit the first pitch with the Hornets’ shortstop unable to make a play allowing McClelland to race home.
The visitors broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third scoring twice against Jaxton Harris (5 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 K, 4 BB, 2 HBP, 1 WP). Back-to-back walks starting the inning set up the scoring.
After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners up, a wild pitch plated the first run of the game. An ensuing run-scoring single followed for a 2-0 lead.
PCHS responded to tie the game. McClellan was hit by a one-out pitch, stole second and moved to third when Williams reached on a dropped third strike. McClellan scored on a delayed double steal with Williams swiping second. A two-base error on a ball hit by Christian Osbourne scored Williams knotting the game at 2-apiece.
Two walks and a passed ball set up Cook’s run in the fifth. A one-out grounder scored the run from third for a 3-2 lead.
The Bears answered in the bottom half of the inning. Hodges reached on an error and advanced around to third on McClellan’s sacrifice bunt. Williams followed with a sacrifice fly to right scoring Hodges to even the score at 3-apiece.
Brantley Willis (2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB) pitched around consecutive one-out singles in the sixth inning. He surrendered a leadoff single in the seventh.
Game 3 No. 2 Bears.....................................................3 No. 7 Cook ......................................................1
ADEL — Hodges’ one-out, two-run fielder’s choice groundout with the bases loaded in the sixth inning gave PCHS its first lead en route to completing the series sweep.
Blanked on five hits through five innings, the Bears put together the go-ahead rally in the sixth. Stone drew a one-out walk and was removed for courtesy runner James Alonzo.
Figueroa (1-for-4) and Sweet (1-for-3) followed with consecutive singles loading the bases. Hodges’ speed down the line foiled the Hornets’ attempt at turning a double play as Alonzo scored the tying run and Figueroa the go-ahead run for a 2-1 advantage.
Cook put the tying and potential go-ahead runs on base in the sixth with consecutive two-out walks by Herrin (5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K, 6 BB).
PCHS added an insurance run in the seventh on Johnson’s (2-for-4) one-out, run-scoring single. Herrin (2-for-4) laced a one-out double with Hall following with a four-pitch walk. Johnson went the other way with a 2-1 pitch driving home Herrin.
Cook brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh when Hall (1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER,1 K, 0 BB) surrendered a two-out double.
The Hornets, who left three batters stranded over the first four innings, collected their first hit in the fifth with a leadoff single. A sacrifice bunt, lineout and intentional walk were followed by a run-scoring single for a 1-0 lead.
