The Bulloch Academy Gators have played a tough non-region schedule and head coach Aaron Phillips feels like that has paid off in region play. Tuesday evening the Gators knocked off rival Pinewood, who was also the No. 1 ranked team in the state in GIAA. The Gators got a great performance on the mound from Jacob Avery and a walk-off RBI single from J.C. Lee in picking up a 3-2 victory at Gator Alley.
“We knew how good Pinewood was,” Phillips said. “They came in 13-1 and their only loss was to Tattnall Square. They were throwing their ace in Banks Booth and he threw a great game. We were having trouble getting to him and stringing hits together, but we finally got to him in the seventh. This was a great win and hopefully we can build on this.”
The Gators found themselves down 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh after Pinewood took a one-run lead on a sacrifice fly from Booth, who also drove in the Patriots only other run with a double in the fifth. The Gators were able to get an RBI single by Austin Smith to tie the game as Parker Chance slid home just in front of the tag. Lee then came through with the game winner moments later.
“We sent J.T. up there to take the first pitch and to try and squeeze bunt the second one,” Phillips said. “When he didn’t get it down, I was proud of him being able to get the single in a key situation. We were able to get plenty of hits but until the last inning they were too scattered around. This was a big win and now we have to try and do something that hasn’t happened in a while and try and sweep Pinewood at their place Friday.”
The Gators had 11 hits in the game but remained within striking distance thanks in large part to the pitching of junior Jacob Avery. Avery ended up allowing only five hits with seven strikeouts and only one walk. Both of the Pinewood runs were unearned.
“Jacob pitched a heck of a ballgame tonight,” Phillips said. “He kept battling through adversity out there. We let a ground ball get through which made him throw an extra eight or nine pitches. He didn’t let anything rattle him and just continued to throw strikes for us the whole game.”
Next up the Gators travel to Pinewood for a 6:30 first pitch Friday.
Elsewhere, Statesboro High picked up a big region win with a 14-0 win over Jenkins. Bruce Yawn had a home run and went 4-4 at the plate while Aiden Lewis pitched a no hitter with nine strikeouts in five innings of work with only one walk. The Blue Devils have now won six of their last eight games and are 5-5 in region play. Statesboro hosts Jenkins for a doubleheader Friday at Mill Creek starting at 4:00.
The Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets improve to 14-8 overall and 9-3 in region play with a three-game sweep of Burke County. The Jackets won 12-0 in Waynesboro behind the pitching and hitting of Cade Harnage. Wednesday at home SEB won the opener 5-0 and took the finale 4-2. Up next the Jackets battle the team on top of the region standings with a trip to Wayne County Tuesday at 6:00.
