Local teams sweep sub-region foes, advance to state baseball playoffs

Region 5-AAAA has been broken into sub-regions. The local teams are in 5A-AAAA and teams like Alexander, Villa Rica, Mays and Lithia Springs are in 5B-AAAA. The top four varsity baseball teams from each sub-region met this week with entrance into the state playoffs on the line. The four local teams swept their opponents.

Northgate beat Lithia Springs in two game sshortened by the mercy rule, allowing only one hit over the two games, to win the region title. They will be the top seed from the region when the state playoffs start next weekend.

Starr’s Mill (17-6) swept Mays, winning the first game 7-1 and taking the second 11-0. The Panthers won game one behind a complete game one hitter from Ken Jackson. Jackson had 11 strikeouts in the win. Paul Patterson and Kevin Koziol both hit home runs in game. In the second game, Drew Johnson earned the win, pitching a one-hitter over five innings and striking out six. Mayles Jaye, Koziol and Danny Beadling each had two hits, while Jackson drove in three runs.

The wins and Whitewater’s defeat of Alexander give Starr’s Mill the second seed and the opportunity to open the state playoffs at home next week. They will host Chamblee (14-10) on Friday.

Sandy Creek (20-6) and Villa Rica split their first two games with the Wildcats winning the first game 6-4 and the Patriots taking game two 6-2. In the third and deciding game on Thursday, the Patriots won 12-2 in five innings. In the final game of the series, Chris Triplett was 2-for 4 with six RBIs, four of which came on a grand slam. Braxton Lane went 3-for-4, while Arthur Owens and Russell Bonner both went 2-for-3. Owens also drove in two runs in the win.

Sandy Creek will open the state playoffs at Lakeside DeKalb (15-9( next Friday

Whitewater (17-7) split their games on Wednesday with Alexander. The Wildcats mounted a huge comeback and won the first game 8-7, while falling in the second game 10-3. The third and final game went to the Wildcats. They won 12-1 in six innings.

Whitewater will open the playoffs at Marist (21-3) next Friday.

In Class A, Landmark Christian (16-6-1, 12-2 region) has finished strong. They have won their last four games, all region games, and have the top spot in region 5-A. The War Eagles defeated Our Lady of Mercy on Tuesday 17-4 and beat Mt. Paran 10-2 on Wednesday. Their final game of the regular season is today at Chapel Hill.

Our Lady of Mercy (5-15) took on Mt. Paran Thursday and lost 17-3.