Ga. high school baseball championships: Cook ends Calhoun's perfect season

Calhoun went into the Class AA state finals thinking of a perfect season and a second state title in six years.

The perfect season is off the table, but the championship dreams are still in play. Down to its final four outs and facing a sweep, Calhoun got a three-run homer from Zack Bradley in the sixth inning of Game 2 to win 4-3 and force a deciding third game in Adel.

“We were dead in the water, but that hit just gave us a shot of life,” Calhoun coach Chip Henderson told WEBS radio. “We talked all year about finishing what we started. The kids showed a lot of fight these past two weeks.”

Cook (31-4) won the first game 6-1 behind D.J. Johnson, who hit a three-run homer and tossed a two-hitter.

Calhoun (34-1) trailed 3-1 in the sixth against Cook’s Kaleb Cowart and his 90-plus mph fastball, but Bradley homered to give the Yellow Jackets the lead.

Game 1 belonged to Johnson. The Mercer signee held visiting Calhoun hitless until two outs in the sixth inning and handed the Yellow Jackets their first loss.

Calhoun starter Carter Harrison held the Hornets scoreless through three innings, but Johnson belted his homer for a 3-0 Cook lead. Later in the inning Cowart singled, stole second and scored on an error to make it 4-0.