MT. AIRY, Ga. — Habersham Central snapped a three-game Region 8-6A losing streak with a 16-1 win in three innings over Shiloh on Monday.
The Raiders (16-7, 8-6 Region 8-6A) scored seven runs in the first and nine in the third to invoke the run-rule. The win kept them in third place in the standings with four games left in the region schedule.
Kreed Barrett and Konner Burrel each drove in three runs. Charlie Mills, Kaleb Chastain, and Kade Nicholson knocked in two runs apiece and Habersham Central pounded out 12 hits on the day.
Maverick Chitwood got the win on the mound, tossing a one-hitter while striking out three.
The Raiders next will play host to Jackson County on Friday in a huge region battle for both teams.
GAINESVILLE 7,
JACKSON COUNTY 2
The Red Elephants continued their strong play of late, winning their second straight game and fourth over their last five in Region 8-6A on Monday on the road.
Gainesville (10-11, 7-7 Region 8-6A)also moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Panthers (9-15, 5-8 Region 8-6A) for fourth place in the region standings.
Gainesville scored in all but one inning, leading 3-0 in the third when Jackson County scored its only two runs on a two-run single from Brice Branton.
Cohen Miller paced the Red Elephants offense with three hits and two RBI. Cooper Reid, Dawson Vaughn, and Connor Thompson all drove in one run for Gainesville.
Smith McGarvey went the distance on the mound, scattering five hits and allowing just the two runs. The southpaw fanned nine in the win.
Both teams have huge region matchups on Wednesday. Gainesville will play host to North Forsyth (16-8, 10-3 Region 8-6A) while Jackson County travels to Lanier (8-16, 4-9 Region 8-6A) trying to stay alive for a playoff spot.
CHEROKEE BLUFF 5,
CHESTATEE 4
The Bears (20-4, 8-2 Region 8-4A North) clinched the Region 8-4A North subregion with a tough win at Bluff Ballpark on Monday.
The loss for the War Eagles (11-12, 4-6 Region 8-4A North), coupled with North Hall’s win over East Hall, eliminated them from the postseason.
But it didn’t come without a fight. Bluff led 2-0 early and later 5-1 in the fifth after Ethan England drove in two runs on a single.
Chestatee, who needed to win at least two games in the series and get an East Hall sweep of North Hall, plated three runs in the sixth to pull within 5-4. Colton Wilbanks doubled in a run, Brock Moody had a RBI single, and Zac Benna singled in Jake Hitchcock.
But Logan Robinson pitched the final 1 1/3 innings to preserve the win for Jacob Vokal, who went 5 2/3 innings for the Bears.
Hitchcock took the loss for Chestatee, giving up five runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.
NORTH HALL 10,
EAST HALL 0 (6 inn)
The Trojans jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead and then scored in every inning in attacking a shutout win in six innings at Lynn Cottrell Field in Region 8-4A North action.
The win for North Hall (11-13, 6-4 Region 8-4A North) snapped a three-game losing streak and kept them on pace for a second place finish in the subregion.
Kaleb Sexton and Jake Beard combined for a no-hitter with Sexton striking out nine and Beard getting the final out.
Brayden Martin knocked in two runs and Korbyn Sosebee, Luke Sanders, and Charlie Wright all drove in run one as the Trojans also scored three unearned runs.
The two teams will resume their three-game series on Wednesday at East Hall Park.
JEFFERSON 4,
EASTSIDE 2
The Dragons kept pace with Loganville in Region 8-5A with a huge road win on Monday.
Jefferson (13-11, 8-1 Region 8-5A) broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth scoring the eventual go-ahead run on an error and added another on a passed ball for a 3-1 lead. The Dragons added a run in the sixth on Josh Causey solo home run.
Eastside scored a run in the seventh and had the winning run at the plate but the Dragons defense turned a game-ending double play to preserve the victory.
Eston Simpson got the win surrendering just one run on five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He fanned four. Austin Stegner got the save pitching the final 1 1/3 innings allowing just the one run.
The two teams will meet again on Wednesday in Jefferson.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCOREBOARD Monday, April 8
Buford 4, Collins Hill 2*
Cherokee Bluff 5, Chestatee 4*
Gainesville 7, Jackson County 2*
Habersham Central 16, Shiloh 1 (3 inn)*
Harrison 5, North Forsyth 3
Jefferson 4, Eastside 2*
North Hall 10, East Hall 0 (6 inn)*
(* -- denotes region contest)
