Indians at GAC Thursday in AAA State Playoffs

The Stephens County Indians earned the #4 seed for Region-8 in the AAA state baseball playoffs by sweeping a doubleheader from the Monroe Area Purple Hurricanes Friday night at the Reservation.

Sophomore Garrett Pless tossed a 7-hit shutout in the first game as the Indians prevailed 8-0. Cruz Mullinix led the offense with two doubles and a single and four RBIs. Ian Rumsey, Nick Randall and Craig Thurmond each had a RBI for Stephens County.

Pless pitched a complete game, struck out three and walked three. Junior Hunter Redden took the loss for Monroe.

Stephens County, behind Cruz Mullinix with five RBIs, outlasted the Purple Hurricanes in game two by a score of 10-7.

The Indians scored twice in the first, second and third innings. Stephens County scored three more runs in the fifth inning and one in the sixth. Monroe Area kept pace by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning and a run in the third. The Purple Hurricanes closed the gap with four runs in the top of the sixth inning, but Patrick Murray earned the save by retiring Monroe Area without scoring in the top of the seventh to earn a trip to the playoffs.

Cruz Mullinix started the game and went two and 2/3 innings before giving way to Ayden Garmen .Murray allowed just one run to salvage the win.

Stephens County ends the regular season on a three game winning streak at 11-16 overall and 5-10 in Region 8-AAA.The Indians will play at Greater Atlanta Christian, the number one seed from Region 5-AAA, in a doubleheader this Thursday. The series is the best two out of three.

Airtime is set for 3:45 P.M. Thursday with first pitch at 4 P.M. on WNEG. Game two will follow 20 minutes after game one.