Baseball: Flowery Branch moves into second round

FLOWERY BRANCH - After three years of frustration in the playoffs, it seemed only fitting that seniors Mason Roberts, Patrick Henry, and Cody Ackerman would be the catalysts to propel the Falcons to their first-ever playoff series win Saturday over Riverwood.

Roberts pitched into the sixth inning, Henry belted what would turn out to be a game-winning two-run home run, and Ackerman struck out the final two batters to give the Falcons a 7-6 win in the deciding Game 3. Flowery Branch won the series 2-to-1 after splitting a doubleheader on Friday.

Flowery Branch (26-3) will play Stephens County, which beat Sandy Creek Saturday to win their best-of-three series, beginning Wednesday at home. No time has been set as of Saturday.

An emotional Henry said it's like the world being lifted off of their shoulders.

"You know, after the last couple of years and then after yesterday [a 9-4 Falcons loss in Game 2] we were a little down and thinking about not letting it happen again," Henry said. "It's definitely a relief and I think we'll all feel more relaxed in the next round. It just feels amazing to finally get past the first round."

Déjà vu enveloped the Hog Mountain Sports Complex Saturday as the Falcons were in the same position against the same opponent as in 2005 only to drop Game 3 of that series at home. Then, after leading 5-2 heading into the sixth inning, the Raiders, who were the home team, scored four runs to take a 6-5 lead. Riverwood scored seven runs on Friday in the sixth inning of Game 2 en route to that win.

Flowery Branch coach Jimmy Lawler, however, said he felt like the seventh inning would be a good one for the Falcons.

"We had our 2-3-4 hitters coming up and Patrick has really been hot so I felt like we could get some runs. He just showed how good he is. He should be the Player of the Year in Hall County," Lawler said. "Mason pitched his butt off and Cody told me before the game he wanted to finish and he did. It's just a great feeling and I'm happy for these seniors. They deserve this."

Roberts pitched well enough to get the win scattering nine hits and battled out of jams in the second, third, and fourth innings. He was one pitch from getting out of the pivotal sixth inning before giving way to Ackerman with the bases loaded leading 5-4.

Ackerman earned the win allowing no one runs and just one hit.

Riverwood's Hollman took the loss allowing three hits and two runs in just one inning of work. Starter Scott Sternstein allowed just two earned runs and gave up five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Flowery Branch jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Brad Stone singled to lead-off, Danny Price walked, and then Henry singled scoring Stone. However, Henry was picked off during the play and Sternstein got the next two batters to end the threat.

The Falcons added to their lead in the second. Chad Rackley walked and then scored on an error on a Bucky Free hit. Stone then drove in courtesy runner Cameron Wilson to make it 3-0.

The Raiders cut into the Flowery Branch lead in the third getting one run on two hits. Riverwood stranded four runners in scoring position through the first three innings as Roberts was able to wiggle out of two early jams.

Riverwood closed to 3-2 in the fifth scoring one run on three hits, highlighted by an RBI single from Charlie Hollman.

The Falcons answered right back in the top of the sixth when Ackerman blasted a two-out, two-run home run to center for a 5-2 lead.

But Riverwood (18-10) used another big sixth inning to take the lead, scoring four runs off Roberts and Ackerman, highlighted by a two-run single from Hollman for his third and fourth RBI of the game to take a 6-5 lead.