Class AAAAAA
Parkview 3, Pope 2: Visiting Pope had Josh Lowe on first with one out in the top of the 7th inning before a lightning delay paused the action for and hour. Parkview got out of the inning once play resumed, but in the top of the 8th Pope took a 2-1 lead after Jacob Ramos drove in Jake Praigo on a sacrifice fly. Parkview opened the bottom of the 8th with a Brandon Hill walk and Austin Biggar doubled to advance Hill to third. Jason Awtrey came in to pinch run for Biggar and Pope intentionally walked David Draper to load the bases, setting up a chance for Parkview to sacrifice fly its way to victory. Parkview's Johnathan Whitmer tied it 2-2 after driving in Hill on a sac fly and the winning run came on a walk-off sac fly by junior Will Etheridge that plated Awtrey. Game 2 was rescheduled for Tuesday at 4:00 pm at Parkview.
Class AAAAA
Gainesville, Jones County 4-3, 5-4:
Gainesville grew an early 4-0 lead in Game 1. Red Elephants starting pitcher Jonathan Gettys launched a three-run home run in the first inning and Caleb Whitenton added an RBI on a ground-out. Jones County cut it to a one-run game in the 6th inning with a two-run home run from Walker Juhan and a RBI single Keever Walker but Gettys got the win and recorded 10 strike-outs. In Game 2, Gainesville overcame a late-charging Greyhound team to win 5-4 and secure their ticket to the state championship. Jones County's Keaton Gordon notched two RBIs, while Caleb Whitenton led the way for the Red Elephants going 2-4 with 2 RBI and a home-run. Fedrick Cardona went 4-3 with an RBI to pad the lead for Gainesville. Gainesville clung to a 3-2 lead after the sixth until Mikey Gonzalez laid down a squeeze bunt for the score. Gainesville will play the winner of Allatoona v. Greenbrier which was postponed until tomorrow due to inclement weather.
Class AAAA
Whitewater 1-5, Veterans 0-1 : In a true pitchers' duel, the Wildcats edged past Veterans in eight innings in Game 1. Jake Lee threw a one-hitter through seven innings and struck out 11 before giving way to Colby Taylor who closed out the game for Whitewater. Preston Sparks was equally as dominant for Veterans allowing two hits and one run in his complete-game effort. Nick Weinstein hit the game-winning sac fly in the eighth for the Wildcats.
The Warhawks’ season ended in Game 2 after a 5-1 loss. Ethan Gillis hurled a complete-game and racked up 11 K’s for the Wildcats. Jabari Richards supplied the offense with three RBIs on a 1-for-2 night at the plate. Brandon Bell and Miles Jones also picked up RBIs. Tyler Daughtry plated the lone RBI of the night for Veterans.
Class AA
Darlington, Rabun County 5-2, 12-2: The Darlington Tigers swept the visiting Rabun County Tigers and will play for the school's first state title since 1984. Jay Shadday gave up one earned run off four hits in Game 1's seven-inning victory and crossed the plate for two of the five runs after batting 2-of-3 with a walk. Burton Dulaney drove in four runs in the bottom of the fifth to give Darlington a 5-1 lead. Dulaney took the mound for Game 2 and gave up two earned runs in five innings pitched as Darlington made quick work of Rabun County with a 10-run victory. Drake Frix batted 3-for-4 in Game 2 and drove in four runs. Jake Maxwell hit a solo home-run and Tripp Flournoy and Dulaney each drove in two runs.
Wesleyan, Fitzgerald 10-0, 4-3: Andrew Sauer struck out nine Fitzgerald batters in Wesleyan's Game 1 shutout. The host Wolves led 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth before a three hour rain delay. Jake McCleskey and Christian Stark each batted in 2 runs before Wesleyan forced mercy rule. In Game 2, Wesleyan went up 1-0 in the top of the 3rd and extended the lead to 2-1 in the top of the 5th. Fitzgerald plated two runs in the bottom of the 6th to take a 3-2 lead, but Wesleyan answered with a pair of runs in the 7th to sweep the series. The Wolves face Darlington in the finals and are searching for the program's first state title since their three-peat from 2008-10.
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