GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A big fourth inning propelled Chestatee to a much-needed 10-4 Region 8-4A win over East Forsyth Thursday night on the road.
The War Eagles also slammed the door on the Broncos' shot at the season sweep.
Thomas Martens led the War Eagles (11-8, 7-4 Region 8-4A) at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance, driving in two runs and scoring two runs.
The game was tied 2-2 going into the fourth inning when the War Eagles began their seven-run inning.
Martens singled in two runs, Colton Wilbanks and Jake Hitchcock each singled in a run, Wesley Gossett drew a walk, scoring a run, and Carter Edmondson doubled in two runs to push the lead to 9-2.
Chestatee added one run in the seventh, and East Forsyth put two more on the board in the bottom of the inning.
Hitchcock earned the win on the mound for the War Eagles. He allowed four runs on three hits, one strikeout, and seven walks in seven innings of work.
Wilbanks was 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Eli Chaffin recorded two hits.
East Forsyth (13-6, 7-4 Region 8-4A) had three hits on the day. Trey Farr, Zach Aschoff and Joseph Gurr had one hit each.
JEFFERSON 5,
WINDER-BARROW 4
Hudson Hodge's walk-off single scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning, lifting the Dragons to the win at home on Thursday.
The Bulldoggs (4-13, 3-2 Region 8-5A)led Jefferson 4-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning. The Dragons (10-8, 6-1 Region 8-5A) started their rally in the inning, scoring one run.
But it was the bottom of the seventh inning when the Jefferson bats came alive. Steven Tavares singled in a run, Josh Causey tripled in a run, and Causey came home on a dropped third strike to set up the winning hit for Hodge. Hodge's line drive single to right field scored Rett Hemphill for the fifth and final run of the game.
Jase Peoples, Hodge, Casey, Hemphill and Tavares had one hit each.
The win keeps the Dragons one game behind region leader Loganville.
LOGANVILLE 14,
FLOWERY BRANCH 0
Leading 5-0 after three innings of play, Loganville racked up nine runs in the bottom of the fourth to run-rule Flowery Branch.
The win keeps the Red Devils atop the Region 8-5A standings.
Flowery Branch (7-9, 4-3 Region 8-5A) is tied for third place with Eastside in the standings.
GILMER 5, 5
LUMPKIN COUNTY 4, 4
Lumpkin County blew the lead in both games to fall to last place Gilmer at home on Thursday.
The losses dropped the Indians (9-8, 5-4 Region 7-3A), putting them behind second-place Dawson County in the Region 7-3A standings.
In both games, the Indians gave up two runs in the seventh inning.
In Game 1, the Indians led 4-3 going into the seventh inning. Noah Gutillo singled in the game-tying run, then Gutillo scored on a fielder's choice for the win.
Peyton Wood and Hayden Gilbert had two hits for the Indians in Game 1.
In Game 2, the Indians allowed the Bobcats (8-8, 2-4 Region 7-3A) to rally back in the bottom of the seventh inning. With Lumpkin County leading 4-3 heading to the bottom of the inning, the Bobcats answered with two runs.
Ethan McCollum singled in the game-winning run to lift the Bobcats to the doubleheader sweep.
Mason Hester was 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Indians at the plate.
DAWSON COUNTY 4, 6
WESLEYAN 7, 1
Dawson County scored six runs in the seventh inning of Game 2 to split the doubleheader with Wesleyan at home on Thursday.
Joshua Priest picked up the complete-game win, allowing one run on five hits and 11 strikeouts.
The Tigers' (12-5, 6-3 Region 7-3A) seventh-inning explosion began with scoring two runs on two errors, Sawyer Bearden's RBI single, Jacson Rickett singled in two runs, and Ethan Odom singled in a run as well to take a 6-0 lead in Game 2.
Wesleyan added one run in the bottom of the inning.
In Game 1, Wesleyan (5-9, 2-4 Region 7-3A) scored seven runs over the first five innings to take a 7-1 lead.
The Tigers scored three runs in the sixth, but that was all they could muster in the final two innings.
Davis Glass led the Tigers with two hits and two RBIs. Rickett also had two hits.
BUFORD 8
MILL CREEK 0
For the second time in as many nights, Buford's (12-4, 6-0) pitching shut out the Hawks to sweep the series and extend the Region 8-7A lead in the standings.
Sophomore pitcher Kyle Krause, who pitched four innings, allowing one hit and striking out three, would get all the run support he needed.
In the first inning, Ethan Murray hit his third home run of the season, a two-out, two-run shot to left field. The Wolves added a run in the 3rd inning with a sac fly by Sophomore Cam Wood. Buford continued to add to their lead in the fifth inning, scoring two unearned runs.
The Hawks had no answer for Krause on the mound for the Wolves, managing only one hit against him in four innings of work.
Nate Taylor created some 2-out magic in the fourth inning with a screaming ground ball up the middle that scored Cam Wood.
In the top of the seventh inning, it was Blake Russell's turn to deliver with 2 outs, sending a line drive to center field, scoring fellow Senior Ethan Murray.
Buford scored seven of its nine runs with two outs during the game. Damian Brown entered the game in the 5th inning to relieve Krause and threw three scoreless innings to record his second save of the series.
Russell was 3-for-4, with a double, RBI, two runs scored and one stolen base. Murray was 2-for-3, with a 2-run HR, 2 RBIs, three runs scored and one stolen base. Taylor finished 2-for-4, with an RBI and one run scored, and Brayden Bickers was 2-for-3.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCOREBOARD, Thursday, March 21
Buford 8, Mill Creek 0*
Chestatee 10, East Forsyth 4*
East Jackson 7, Fellowship Christian 5*
Gilmer 5, 5 at Lumpkin County 4, 4*
White County 8, Johnson 2
Wesleyan 7, 1, Dawson County 4, 6*
Pickens 6, West Hall 1*
Jefferson 5, Winder-Barrow 4*
(* -- denotes region contest)
