Indians to Face Burke County in 2nd Round

The Stephens County Indians baseball team has advanced to the 2nd Round of the AAA State Playoffs sweeping a doubleheader, and the best of 3 series, two games to none at Rockmart on Friday.

The Indians took game one 7-3 and the nightcap 5-0.

The Indians will now travel to Burke County for round number 2 in a best of 3 series that begins on Wednesday with a doubleheader.

The Indians entered the playoffs as the 4th seed from Region-8, but dominated the two games with the #1 seed from Region-6.

The Indians pitching staff was outstanding in both games. In game one, Ayden Garmon got the win going 6 1/3 innings and allowing one earned run on 4 hits and striking out four. Cruz Mullinix got the final two outs to seal the win.

Garmon helped his own cause at the plate with 2 RBI’s, and Colby Fowler had 3 hits, scored 3 runs, and added a RBI to lead the offense.

The Indians were aided in the game by 4 Yellow Jacket errors.

In game two, Indians pitching struck out 14 and scored 5 runs on just 2 hits to take the 5-0 shutout.

Mullinix went 6 1/3 innings allowing only 3 hits and striking out 12. Grant Babbitt got the last two outs of the game and both on strikeouts.

The Indians scored 4 runs in the first inning sending 10 men to the plate and picking up their only two hits of the game. Garrett Burgess had a RBI in the inning scoring Carson Worley who had led off the inning with a hit. After that the Indians loaded the bases and scored runs when Jacob Pruitt was hit by a pitch, and walks to William Roush and Craig Thurmond.

The Yellow Jackets Hunter Atkins relieved starting pitcher Jake Bailey and the Indians didn’t reach base again until the 5th inning when Mullinix led off with a walk and later scored on a balk.

Stephens County improves to 15-15 on the season and have now won 4 straight. Rockmart’s season ended with a record of 20-8.

Things did not go as well for other Region-8 teams in the playoffs. Both Oconee County and Hart County were swept in their series. Oconee County fell at home to Sonoraville, and Hart County lost both games at Ringgold. Franklin County, the region’s #1 seed, swept Coahulla Creek and will host Morgan County on Wednesday.

Other area teams results included Elbert County moving past Heard County, Commerce advanced to the 2nd round in Class A, and both Rabun County and Banks County were eliminated.