ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Andrew Rice’s RBI double in the top of the seventh provided the game-winner for Gainesville, who finished off a sweep of Chattahoochee with a 3-2 win on Wednesday on the road.
The win was the sixth straight for the Red Elephants (12-12, 10-5 Region 7-5A), who have also won 11 of their last 12 overall and climbed into a tie for second place with Johns Creek (14-6, 10-5 Region 7-5A).
Gainesville led 2-0 after single runs each in the first and fourth innings. Dawson Vaughn knocked in one run and they also scored on a balk. Answered with runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
Adrian Medina got the win in relief for the Red Elephants. Medina allowed two hits and zero runs over the final two innings while striking out four.
Drew O’Neill took the loss for Chattahoochee. The pitcher went seven innings, surrendering three runs (two earned) on nine hits, striking out seven and walking one.
Daniel Rico started and gave up two runs (only one earned) on six hits in five innings. Rico fanned six and walked two.
Graham Fleming and Rice each had two hits for Gainesville.
The Red Elephants are off until traveling to Loganville on April 11.
HABERSHAM CENTRAL 7,
JACKSON COUNTY 4
The Raiders moved into third place in Region 8-5A with a come-from-behind win at home on Wednesday.
Habersham Central (13-9, 5-4 Region 8-5A) led 2-0 after the third on a RBI single by Chris Mills and a wild pitch. The Panthers (10-11, 3-6 Region 8-5A) took a 3-2 in the fourth on a RBI double from Tripp Brown, a Cooper Galley sacrifice fly, and a RBI groundout by Colin Price.
But the Raiders exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth, capped by a two-run single from Maverick Chitwood.
Chitwood got the complete-game win, giving up four runs (three earned) on 10 hits. He struck out four.
Brody Strickland took the loss for Jackson County. He gave up seven runs on six hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings.
Tyler Rothell drove in two runs for Habersham Central. Chitwood finished with two hits for Habersham Central.
Colin Price and Justin Mills each had two hits for the Panthers.
NORTH OCONEE 9,
FLOWERY BRANCH 1
The Falcons bid to move into a first place tie in Region 8-4A fell short on Wednesday.
It was a close game into fifth with Flowery Branch (12-8, 7-3 Region 8-4A) trailing the Titans just 2-0. But North Oconee (18-4, 9-1 Region 8-4A) erupted for three runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to blow the game open.
The Falcons only run came in the sixth on a solo home run to right field by Javi Ojeda.
Jacob Miller took the loss for Flowery Branch, lasting five innings but giving up five runs on five hits and striking out four.
Noah Allen earned the win for North Oconee allowing just one hit and striking out eight in four innings.
Antonio De La Torre Mariscal had two hits for the Falcons.
The two teams will close out their series on Friday with a doubleheader in Bogart.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, April 2
(First pitch at 5:55 unless otherwise noted)
Buford 3, Discovery 0*
Gainesville 3, Chattahoochee 2*
Habersham Central 7, Jackson County 4*
North Forsyth 8, Alpharetta 4*
North Oconee 9, Flowery Branch 1*
(* -- denotes region contest)
