LOGANVILLE, Ga. — Jefferson was three outs from a region title.
But Loganville scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to rally for a 4-3 win over the Dragons in both teams’ Region 8-5A finales.
It was a one-game showdown for the title as both teams sat at 10-1 in the region standings. Jefferson (15-12,10-2 Region 8-5A) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third on RBI singles from Hudson Hodge and Josh Causey.
Loganville (17-12, 11-1 Region 8-5A) got a run back in the bottom of the inning but the Dragons pushed their lead to 3-1 in the sixth on a run-scoring double from Aiden Mixon.
Eston Simpson had been cruising for Jefferson allowing just one run on five hits through six. But a single, a hit batter, and two huge errors allowed the Red Devils to tie the game. Loganville got the game-winner on a passed ball.
Jefferson moves on to the Class 5A playoffs and will be the No. 2 seed.
GAINESVILLE 11,
SHILOH 1
The Red Elephants clinched a playoff spot with a five-inning win at Ivey-Watson Field on Monday.
The offense racked up 10 hits, including Cooper Reid’s 4-for-4 day with 4 RBI. Tavarus Dowdy had two hits and 3 RBI for Gainesville (12-12, 9-8 Region 8-6A).
The Red Elephants scored one in the first, two in the second and blew it open with five runs in the third. They added four in the fourth, which helped Smith McGarvey have a quick day on the mound.
The southpaw went the distance scattering two hits and allowing just one run (none earned) while striking out 8.
Gainesville can clinch the No. 3 seed in the region if it can beat first place Apalachee on the road on Wednesday and get two more Habersham Central losses.
NORTH FORSYTH 10,
HABERSHAM CENTRAL 6
North Forsyth kept pace with Apalachee for a possible shot at the Region 8-6A title with a win on the road.
However, North Forsyth (19-9, 13-3 Region 8-6A) would need to win its final two games and also get the Wildcats (17-10, 12-2 Region 8-6A) to drop two of their last three games.
The loss for Habersham (17-8, 9-7 Region 8-6A) dropped it just one-half game ahead of Gainesville for the No. 3 seed. Both teams have clinched playoff spots but both are fighting to stay out of the fourth position.
Habersham started strong, taking a 6-2 lead after the third on a two-run double from Konner Burrell. But they couldn't hold it.
North Forsyth rallied for eight runs over the final three innings, getting the eventual game-winner on a RBI single from Jordan Cox in the sixth.
Jake Prince had a huge game for North Forsyth, going 4-for-5 with 3 RBI, including a pair of solo home runs.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCOREBOARD Monday, April 15
(All games start at 5:55 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Apalachee 15, Jackson County 6*
Buford 10, Dacula 1*
Flowery Branch 14, Heritage-Conyers 4*
Gainesville 11, Shiloh 1 (5 inn)*
Gilmer 22, West Hall 3*
Loganville 4, Jefferson 3*
North Forsyth 10, Habersham Central 6*
(* -- denotes region contest)
