ROSWELL, Ga. — Flowery Branch's run in the Class 5A playoffs came to a gut-wrenching end on Monday, getting swept by Centennial 8-2 and 4-3 on the road on Monday.
Branch looked poised to send it to a third game on Tuesday, loading the bases with one out and trailing 4-3. But Kade Smalwood hit into a doubleplay to end the game and the series.
Flowery Branch assistant coach Dusty Black, speaking for the team after head coach Joey Ray was ejected in the second game, said it was a tough way to finish the season.
"It's definitely tough, you know," Black said. "That was one of the biggest games we've had all year as far as highs and lows. It's tough because somebody's got to lose, and it just so happened to be us tonight.
"But we could have laid down after the first game and (the kids) didn't. We battled back and we were three inches away from winning the game, if that ball is pulled down the first base line a little bit more."
In Game 1, Centennial jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings and then cruised to an 8-2 win. The Knights used a five -run second inning, highlighted by a grand slam from Nick Southard, to build the big lead.
Jamie Whittier got the win going seven innings, allowing 11 hits and two runs while striking out 10 and walking none.
Mason Compton took the loss for Flowery Branch, lasting just four innings, allowing seven runs on 11 hits.
Flowery Branch scored its first run in the first on a sacrifice fly from Compton and added a run in the fifth on a RBI groundout from Smallwood.
In Game 2, the Knights broke a scoreless tie in the fifth with a pair of runs off Falcons' starter Aaron Attaway, who went 4 2/3 innings scattering five hits. Branch answered back with a run in the bottom of the inning and took a 3-2 lead in the sixth on a Jackson Freeman sacrifice fly and a Riley Mitchell RBI double.
Centennial, however, struck again for two runs in the top of the seventh, getting the eventual game-winner with two outs.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Falcons loaded the bases on singles by Luke Stone and Austin Bourrie and a walk to Javy Ojeda with one out. But the Knights' Owen Craig, who took over on the mound for Centennial after the walk to Ojeda, was able to get out of the jam with the doubleplay.
Black said the experience of the playoffs for a young team is always valuable.
"We're a young team overall," Black said. "It was nice for them to get to experience the playoff atmosphere. It's a tough feeling, getting close to winning and coming up short, because it hurts.
"Hopefully this puts a little drive into them to work hard in the off season and come back ready for next year."
