Indians Playoff Run Ends in Lions Sweep

The Stephens County Indians baseball season came to an end in the state AA quarterfinals Wednesday night in Carnesville falling to Franklin County in a pair of one run games.

In game one, the Indians grabbed an early lead in the top of the 1st when Duke Collins was hit by a pitch, and after a Christian Hewitt walk, scored on a throwing error.

Franklin County tied the game in the bottom of the 3rd when with two outs, Cade Gibson was hit by a pitch and scored on Easton Gailey’s RBI double.

The score would stay tied until the 6th inning when Tyler Zigan scored on Findley Ward’s RBI single to make the score 2-1. Franklin County tied the score in the bottom of the inning when Eli Moore running for Gailey scored on a throwing error.

After a scoreless 7th and 8th innings, the Indians again got the lead in the 9th inning when they loaded the bases with no outs and Konnor Loudermilk delivered a sacrifice fly scoring Hayden Scott, but the Indians were not able to add any more runs.

In the bottom of the inning with two outs and Will Dodd at 1st base, Ty Peeples was intentionally walked, and Hudson Huff delivered a game tying RBI single. After Gibson was hit by a pitch, Peeples scored the winning run on a wild pitch to give the Lions a 4-3 win.

Konnor Loudermilk pitched eight strong innings for the Indians allowing only 5 hits and one earned run while striking out 8. Ward pitched 2/3 of and inning and suffered the loss.

Gibson and Cade Cawthon combined to pitch 8 innings for the Lions with Luke Beasley pitching an inning to get the win.

In game two, Peeples hit a solo home run over the centerfield wall in the top of the 5th to give the Lions a lead that they would never lose in the 2-1 win.

Stephens County again got an early lead when Collins reached on an error and scored on a Zigan RBI single. The hit would have plated two but Hewitt was cut down at home on an assist from Peeples.

Franklin County tied the score when Gailey led off with a single and Moore running for Gailey, scored on an Indians error.

After Peeples home run in the 5th, Stephens County stranded two runners on base in both the 5th and 7th innings.

Gailey pitched the complete game for the Lions allowing no earned runs on 6 hits while striking out 4. Hayden Scott went the entire way for Stephens County and pitched another great game for the Indians allowing one earned run on 3 hits while striking out 7.

Franklin County, now 26-9 on the season, advances to the semifinal and will play  Thursday’s winner of Appling County at Morgan County.

In the 1st season for coach Dacen Cash, the Indians finish with a record of 23-11. It was also the final game for seven outstanding Stephens County seniors: Landon Carter, Eli Sewell, Hayden Scott, Ismael Matias, Ethan Smith, Tyler Zigan, and Konnor Loudermilk.