GAINESVILLE — Ben Still took Logan Bogue’s second pitch and ripped a two-run shot over the left field fence to lead the Gainesville baseball team past Habersham Central, 7-5, Tuesday night at Ivey-Watson Field.
Still’s walk-off home run scored Harris Bell in the bottom of the eighth inning to end the Region 8-6A battle and move the Red Elephants (7-10, 2-2) to at least a tie in the top four of the standings.
“We challenged the kids to compete at the plate and they did a great job of battling," Gainesville coach Adam Miller said. "We knew facing (Alex) McFarlane was going to be a tough task. We were able to hang around and get to the bullpen"
Still was 2-for-4 with four RBIs to lead the Red Elephants at the plate, but it was Corbin Lindsey’s solo homer in the bottom of the seventh that sent the game to extra innings.
"Corbin had a huge home run to tie it," Miller said. "Ben did a great job of driving a ball to the outfield with a runner on third. The walk-off homer was icing on the cake."
Dalton Kyle earned the win in relief for Dylan Nesbit. Kyle allowed one run on one hit and one strikeout in two innings of work. Nesbit, went six innings giving up two earned runs on six hits and five Ks.
"Very proud the way Dylan Nesbit pitched for six innings and Dalton Kyle was fantastic for the seventh and eighth to pick up his first win," Miller said.
The Raiders (14-5, 2-2) were in control from the get-go, pushing their lead to 3-0 in the top of the third inning off a single by Hogan Pitts that scored Colby Jones. They would extend it, 4-0, in the fourth inning when Nesbit walked McFarlane, scoring Christian King.
Gainesville’s bats came alive in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Cale Conley reached on a single, then took second on a steal. Bell reached on a walk and Seth White singled, loading the bases for Still. Still then ripped a ground ball to left field, scoring Conley and Bell. Later in the inning, White used his speed to steal home. The steal inched the Red Elephants closer, 4-3, at the end of the fourth.
In the sixth inning, the Red Elephants tied the game, 4-4, off a White single to right field that scored Grady Vardeman.
Habersham, however, would grab the lead back, 5-4, in the top of the seventh inning off a wild pitch that scored Bogue.
In the bottom, all Lindsay needed was two pitches, the first was a ball, the second pitch he hammered over the left field fence to tie the game. Habersham sat the next two batters down to send the game to extra innings and setting up the monster ending from the Red Elephants.
The two foes will meet again Wednesday in Mt. Airy. First pitch is 5:55 p.m.
EAST JACKSON 1,
FRANKLIN COUNTY 0
JEFFERSON 11,
HART COUNTY 1
It's hard for anybody to beat the Dragons these days – just ask Hart County.
The Bulldogs were the Dragons' latest victims Tuesday night in an 11-1 five-inning thrashing at Hart County.
The Dragons started with a modest 6-0 lead in the fourth inning and by the end of the fifth, led 11-1.
Jefferson erupted for five runs in the top of the fifth, highlighted by Ryan Godfrey's two-out, two-run home run.
Lane Watkins snagged the win on the mound, allowing four hits, one earned run while striking out three in five innings of work.
The Dragons (14-0, 7-0) will host Hart County on Friday for a doubleheader. First pitch is 5:30 p.m.
LAKEVIEW 8,
RIVERSIDE 1
Holden Cooper turned a complete game performance on the mound to lead the Lions past Riverside Tuesday night on the road.
Cooper only allowed two hits, one earned run, three walks and struck out nine to pick up the win.
Jordan Thomas was 3-for-4, with two RBIs, scored a run and a stolen base.
KJ Millwood, Andrew Estes and Ian Echols each had a single and scored a run.
The Lions (13-4, 5-0) will travel to George Walton Friday at 5:30 p.m.
CHEROKEE BLUFF 10, 9,
RABUN COUNTY 5, 3
Cherokee Bluff had no problems crossing the plate in a sweep of Rabun County Tuesday night at home.
The Bears scored a combined 19 runs in the doubleheader sweep.
In game one, the Bears scored one run in the first, four in the third, one in the fourth and fourth in the fifth.
Parker Shope picked up the win in game one, allowing one earned run on seven hits and five strikeouts.
Jackson Kemp was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs. Tyler Zawacki was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Parker Shope, Caleb Piland, Dylan Kautz and Chandler Shope each had one RBI.
In game two, Bluff scored four runs in the first, three in the second, one in third and one in the sixth.
Chandler Shope earned the win in game two, allowing one hit, no earned runs and six strikeouts.
Parker Shope and Chandler Shope drove in two runs each. Brody Beal, Jacob Jones had one RBI each.
Rabun's Brandy Wilson earned two RBIs and Gunner Stockton drove in one run.
Cherokee Bluff (10-7, 5-4) will travel to Denmark Thursday at 5:55 p.m.
Rabun County (3-13, 3-5) will host Oglethorpe on Friday. Game time is 5 p.m.
NORTH HALL 11,
EAST HALL 2
Caleb Clark and David Seavey combined for five RBIs and five hits to lead the Trojans past Region 7-3A rival East Hall Tuesday on the road.
Clark was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and scored two runs and Seavey drove in three runs off a 2-for-3 day at the plate.
Wes Tadman pitched six innings, giving up one earned run on three hits and fourth strikeouts to earn the win. Jack Wiley tossed one inning in relief, allowing one hit, no runs and one K.
Jace Bowen, Caleb Payne and Kelton Kieschnick each had an RBI.
East Hall's Taylor Smith and Josh Medina drove in the Vikings two runs.
The two foes will play game two of the three-game series Wednesday at North Hall. Game time is 5:55 p.m.
BUFORD 15,
CEDAR SHOALS 0
Sean Adams held Cedar Shoals hitless as the Wolves scored 15 runs in three innings to run-rule Cedar Shoals Tuesday afternoon at home.
Kaleb Elder was 2-for-2 with 3 RBIs, Evan Place was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and EJ Murray was 1-for-1 with two RBIs to lead the Wolves.
Pat Walker, Brandon Joliff, Grant Imahara, Eli Ledford, John Allen Williams and Austin Turner had one RBI each.
Sean Adams picked up the no-hitter, going three innings and striking out nine.
