Wesleyan showed its ability to hold slim leads and blow out opponents, all in a two-game series as the Wolves swept North Cobb Christian 3-0, 18-3 to win the Class A Private state championship Tuesday.
After its 3-0 victory in the first game of the evening, the Wolves overwhelmed North Cobb Christian in all fashions in Game 2 to win the title.
Wesleyan scored five runs in the first inning, three runs in the second inning, six runs in the fourth inning and four runs in the top of the fifth inning to secure the championship.
Forrest Leitz, who was 2-for-3 with two hits, two runs and four RBIs led the potent Wolves offensive showing.
Blauser, son of former Atlanta Braves player Jeff, went 1-for-2 with three runs and two RBIs. Schley Gordy went 2-for-4 with four runs and an RBI. Hubbard was 1-for-3 with three RBIs. Jones, son of former Atlanta Braves player Andruw and the nation’s top-recruit, was 1-for-1 with one run and one RBI. Carson Ballard went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and one run. Nate Kerpics was 1-for-3 with two runs and one RBI and Dominic Purcell went two-for-four with two RBIs.
On the mound in Game 2, Purcell pitched 3 ⅔ innings and allowed three hits and no earned runs. Jones pitched 1 ⅓ innings and gave up three hits and three runs (1 error).
In Game 1, Wesleyan scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning and then relied on Ballard’s arm to keep runners off base. He pitched six innings, faced 23 batters and allowed just three hits. Blauser closed the game facing five batters and allowing no hits. Hubbard was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and Blauser was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Jones went 1-for-2 with a run.
Wesleyan previously won state championships in 2008, 2009, 2019 and 2015. North Cobb Christian was trying for the program’s first title.
See the recap from the Class 3A games below.
Pike County beat Redan 5-4 to capture the program’s second state title and first since 2019 Tuesday at Coolray Field in the decisive third game of the Class 3A championship series.
“We saw two of the three arms today that we saw in the double-header,” said Pike head coach Don Hanson, who has been coaching the Pirates for 19 seasons. “They had a few pitches left so they threw them at us. We struggled a little bit early, they had the lead early and then we tied it up and took the lead and then they tied it back again.”
Redan scored a run in the top of the first inning and again in the top of the fourth inning before Pike rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to lead 3-2. The Raiders added a run in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game but Pike managed two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the final lead. The Pirates allowed Redan one run in the top of the seventh inning but that is all the Raiders could muster.
“We were just able to squeeze out some clutch hits that we had not been able to connect on in the other two games in the series. They were just clutch and we just held on for the victory,” Hanson said.
Trevor Bagwell pitched 6 ⅓ innings and allowed seven hits while facing 31 batters. Kole Hammond finished the final two outs of the seventh inning to seal the victory.
“Bagwell pitched a gem of a game,” Hanson said. “Then we had one of the relievers come in a close it out to hold on to the victory.”
Coleman Johnson had one hit and two RBIs while Ridge Smith and Josh Buffington each had an RBI for Pike. Denial Ortiz, Manolo Parcels and Anthony Mateo each had an RBI for Redan.
See the results from the first two games of the series below.
Pike County and Redan split Monday’s doubleheader.
In the first game, Pike County beat Redan 6-4 and had to come from behind to do it. Redan took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, but Pike County responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Redan plated another run in the top of the fifth inning, but Pike County scored again in the bottom of the sixth inning to lead 6-3. Redan could muster only one run in the top of the seventh.
Braden Osbolt had two RBIs, while Coleman Johnson, Kole Hammond and Mason Trucks each had an RBI. Trucks (five innings) and Hammond (two innings) split pitching duties. Trucks faced 25 batters, allowing three hits and three runs. Hammond faced 10 batters, allowing three hits and one run.
Redan’s Anthony Mateo pitched a two-hitter, facing 24 batters, and led the Raiders past Pike 2-0 in Game 2. Eyon Everett and Bernard Moon each had an RBI in the bottom of the third inning for Redan.
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