Here's a look at the Class AAAA final four in baseball and how they made to Monday's semifinals.
Cartersville
Cartersville beat Wayne County 4-3 in Game 3 on Thursday to become the fourth and final semifinal team in Class AAAA. The game was 3-3 entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Carrington Evans’ two-out single to center field won it. Wayne County had walked Elliott Anderson intentionally to get to Evans, who was 0-for-3 before the game-winner. First baseman Jacob Fowler, the No. 9 hitter, scored the winning run. He was 5-for-8 with a double in the series. Left fielder Trent Frazier was 3-for-3 with a home run and six RBI in the 12-1 victory in Game 1. Cartersville’s series with Buford will be a rematch of the 2014 semifinals, which Cartersville won 0-4, 7-2, 7-4.
Buford
Clemson-bound lefthander Jake Higginbotham shut out Locust Grove 10-0 (3-hitter), Perry 3-0 (no-hitter, 14 strikeouts) and Heritage-Conyers 10-0 (1-hitter, 10 strikeouts) in three rounds of the playoffs. Connor Bennett, who has signed with West Virginia, had a 14-strikeout game in the first round. Keyton Gibson, who is headed to Georgia Tech, pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings in the second round. Buford is 6-0 with four shutouts in the playoffs. Buford reached the semifinals last year (lost to Cartersville) and most recently won a state title in 2011.
Veterans
Ryan Johnson and Preston Sparks had been the stalwarts of Veterans’ first- and second-round playoff victories, as neither starting pitcher had allowed an earned run. But against St. Pius in round three, Veterans had to call on its No. 3 starter, and Tyler Dougherty was more than adequate, as he pitched six shutout innings in the 6-1 victory. He also went 2-for-3 with a home run. Johnson got the Game 2 victory, also by a 6-1 score. He has thrown 18 innings and allowed two runs (one earned). Preston Sparks, who has signed with Abraham Baldwin, has pitched a one-hitter and a two-hitter in the playoffs.
Whitewater
Whitewater, the Class AAAAA runner-up in 2014 to Houston County, is in the state semifinals for the sixth straight season. No other school can say that. (Parkview has been five straight times). The Wildcats were impressive in the two-game sweep of North Hall in the quarterfinals. Both starting pitchers – Jake Lee (Georgia Tech signee) and Ethan Gillis (Kennesaw State signee) – had 11-strikeout games in the 8-2, 10-1 sweep. Neither allowed an earned run in their 12 combined innings. At the plate, right fielder J.D. Norred was 4-for-7 with a double and a triple in the series. Third baseman Brandon Bell was 4-for-7 with a home run, a double and five RBI. Designated hitter Miles Jones was 2-for-5 with a home run and five RBI.
About the Author
