CLAXTON — Harley Hendrix won his ninth game of the year and Claxton plated five runs in the third inning to beat visiting Bryan County 9-1, clinching a share of the Region 3-A championship Tuesday night.
The Tigers (19-3, 11-1) ended one of the best seasons in school history with winning streaks of 12 and six games and will be at home for at least the first round of the GHSA Class A state playoffs on May 9.
“We’re super proud,” said CHS coach Donny Sikes. “Coming into this year we thought we had a chance to do really well — but we have exceeded our expectations.”
Claxton’s seniors were honored prior to the game, the regular-season finale. Matt Rogers put an exclamation point on the night by skying a home run to deep right field in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-1. One hitter later, first baseman John Peel launched a shot just left of dead center to make it 9-1, and CHS and it’s seniors were in cruise control.
“This game puts a cap on the whole season,” said Sikes. “These seniors have been the ones to step up and lead us the whole way. There might be two or three guys that lead us in terms of stats — but the other guys have stepped in and tried to lead off the field and in other ways and that’s what has really been key for us.”
The run support was more than enough for Hendrix. The senior may have not had his best stuff Tuesday, but he still battled for a complete game, allowing one run on five hits. And although he only struck out three, that didn’t stop his own personal fan club from keeping track from just beyond the right field fence, hanging ‘K’s on the outfield wall after Hendrix mowed down one in the second, one in the third and one in the fifth.
“Some of them guys — I don’t know if they got a whole lot of sense,” said Hendrix. “But they love the baseball team and we love ‘em being out there. That’s the kind of support that really helps us.”
The Tigers’ five-run third chased Bryan County starter Cameron Lee who — until that point — was matching Hendrix pitch-for-pitch.
Kenny Deloach started the rally innocently enough with a one-out walk. Kenny Goodson was hit by a pitch and then Rogers singled to right to make it 1-0. Hendrix and Peel drew back-to-back walks to push the lead to two. The Redskins (6-18, 2-9) brought in reliever Justin Covington, but he hit Jordy Tippins on the first pitch making it 3-0 and then induced a groundout by Josh Burke to make it 4-0. Brandon Stanfield — in his second at-bat of the inning — drew yet another walk to make it 5-0.
Claxton added a single run in the fourth on a Rogers double to deep right center. The junior ended the regular season with 23 RBIs and was a triple short of the cycle for the night.
The Tigers will be the region’s No. 1 or No. 2 seed, pending the outcome of the Calvary Day-Emanuel County Institute game.
A win by the Cavaliers means the two schools will flip a coin on Saturday to determine seeding.
“We’ve never been in a playoff situation before,” said Hendrix. “I don’t really know what to expect — but I know we’re going to give it our all and go in full speed ahead.”
Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.
The Tigers (19-3, 11-1) ended one of the best seasons in school history with winning streaks of 12 and six games and will be at home for at least the first round of the GHSA Class A state playoffs on May 9.
“We’re super proud,” said CHS coach Donny Sikes. “Coming into this year we thought we had a chance to do really well — but we have exceeded our expectations.”
Claxton’s seniors were honored prior to the game, the regular-season finale. Matt Rogers put an exclamation point on the night by skying a home run to deep right field in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-1. One hitter later, first baseman John Peel launched a shot just left of dead center to make it 9-1, and CHS and it’s seniors were in cruise control.
“This game puts a cap on the whole season,” said Sikes. “These seniors have been the ones to step up and lead us the whole way. There might be two or three guys that lead us in terms of stats — but the other guys have stepped in and tried to lead off the field and in other ways and that’s what has really been key for us.”
The run support was more than enough for Hendrix. The senior may have not had his best stuff Tuesday, but he still battled for a complete game, allowing one run on five hits. And although he only struck out three, that didn’t stop his own personal fan club from keeping track from just beyond the right field fence, hanging ‘K’s on the outfield wall after Hendrix mowed down one in the second, one in the third and one in the fifth.
“Some of them guys — I don’t know if they got a whole lot of sense,” said Hendrix. “But they love the baseball team and we love ‘em being out there. That’s the kind of support that really helps us.”
The Tigers’ five-run third chased Bryan County starter Cameron Lee who — until that point — was matching Hendrix pitch-for-pitch.
Kenny Deloach started the rally innocently enough with a one-out walk. Kenny Goodson was hit by a pitch and then Rogers singled to right to make it 1-0. Hendrix and Peel drew back-to-back walks to push the lead to two. The Redskins (6-18, 2-9) brought in reliever Justin Covington, but he hit Jordy Tippins on the first pitch making it 3-0 and then induced a groundout by Josh Burke to make it 4-0. Brandon Stanfield — in his second at-bat of the inning — drew yet another walk to make it 5-0.
Claxton added a single run in the fourth on a Rogers double to deep right center. The junior ended the regular season with 23 RBIs and was a triple short of the cycle for the night.
The Tigers will be the region’s No. 1 or No. 2 seed, pending the outcome of the Calvary Day-Emanuel County Institute game.
A win by the Cavaliers means the two schools will flip a coin on Saturday to determine seeding.
“We’ve never been in a playoff situation before,” said Hendrix. “I don’t really know what to expect — but I know we’re going to give it our all and go in full speed ahead.”
Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.