ATHENS — Campbell Melson’s RBI single in the fifth inning would be the game-winning run in a 3-2 win over Athens Christian in a crucial first place Region 8-A battle Wednesday afternoon on the road.
The win lifted the Lions (15-4, 7-0) to the top of Region 8-A, one game ahead of Athens Christian (11-10, 7-1).
Melson drove in Wyatt Starke in the top of the fifth inning to extend the Lions’ lead, 3-0.
Athens Christian scored two runs off Ladd Fortson’s two-out double in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Lions sat down the next seven batters to seal the win.
Andrew Estes earned the win for the Lions, giving up two runs on four hits and six strikeouts. Melson picked up the save with two hitless innings of the work.
Estes also was 2-for-3 with one RBI. Melson was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
EASH HALL 13,
DAWSON COUNTY 5
The Vikings scatter 13 runs over five innings to route Dawson County Wednesday night in a Region 7-3A battle in Dawsonville.
Leading 8-4 after the fifth inning, Taylor Smith and Luke Holtzclaw led a five-run sixth inning to pull away from the Tigers.
Holtzclaw ripped a three-run homer in the inning and finished the day with four RBIs.
Smith was 3-4 with two RBIs. Luke England drove in three runs and Alex Brock ended the day with two RBIs.
Holtzclaw surrendered five runs on seven hits while fanning seven Tigers. TJ Smith tossed an inning in relief.
Hudson Sapp was 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the with three hits in four at-bats.
DENMARK 7,
CHESTATEE 3
Chestatee took the early lead, but Denmark used a four-run fourth inning to rally past the War Eagles Wednesday afternoon at home.
After the Danes grabbed a 4-1 lead in the top of the fourth, Chestatee closed the hammered out two runs off a two-run single from Nolan Turner.
Denmark, however, scored three unanswered runs through the next three innings to take the win.
WALNUT GROVE 2,
BUFORD 1
Chandler Head ripped his second solo home run of the game in the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie and lead Walnut Grove to a big win over the Wolves Wednesday afternoon at Buford.
The win lifts the Warriors back to the top spot in Region 8-5A. The loss drops Buford down to the third spot in the region, only a few percentage points ahead of Clarke Central.
The Warriors took the lead early on, 1-0 until Buford found home plate in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game.
GREATER ATLANTA 12,
CHEROKEE BLUFF 7
The Bears gave up four runs in the sixth inning in a loss to Region 7-3A foe Greater Atlanta Christian Wednesday night on the road.
Bluff scored five runs in the second inning to take a 7-0 lead. Chandler Shope, Jacob Carlson, and Jackson Kemp drove in runs in the inning.
GAC, however, would score 12 straight runs over the next five innings to outpace the Bears.
COMMERCE 10,
TOWNS COUNTY 3
The Tigers scored 10 runs over four innings to knock off Towns County Wednesday night in Hiawassee.
N Ray earned the win on the mound for the Tigers. He gave up one run on five hits over five innings, striking out five and walking one.
K Mintz, J Welch, C Martin, L Davis and TJ Trudrak all drove in runs for the Tigers.
Lane Denton was 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Indians.
JEFFERSON 4,
FRANKLIN COUNTY 0
The Dragons found a way to score four runs against a solid pitching performance from Franklin's Blake Wehunt to pick up the Region 8-3A win Wednesday afternoon on the road.
Wehunt struck out 12 Dragons in five innings of work, but the Dragons were able to score four runs off five hits in the win.
Lane Watkins went six innings, giving up four hits and striking out five, to snagged the win for the Dragons. Zac Corbin picked up the save.
DACULA 8,
GAINESVILLE 1
The Falcons scored seven unanswered runs in the Region 8-6A win over the Red Elephants Wednesday at Dacula.
Harris Bell drove in the Red Elephants lone run in the top of the first inning, scoring Seth White.
JOHNSON 9,
CEDAR SHOALS 3
Tristen Nguyen was 3-four-4 with four RBIs and struck out 16 in the Region 8-5A win over Cedar Shoals Wednesday night on the road.
Nguyen drove in runs on a double in the second and a triple in the seventh.
Johnson scored one run in the first, three in the second, one in the sixth and four in the seventh.
Nolan Bullock, Nguyen, and James Lancaster powered the four-run seventh inning with RBIs.
Nguyen snagged the win on the hill for the Knights, giving up one run on two hits in six innings and 16 Ks. Joshua Lopez threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen.
