Put simply — Statesboro obliterated Bainbridge Friday night in the first round of the GHSA Class AAAA state playoffs.
The Blue Devils (15-12) pounded BHS 28-3 after a 15-0 Game Two win, compiling 26 hits over the course of a doubleheader. The two squads only played 10 innings due to the mercy rule being enforced in both games. By the time the night was over, few would remember the Bearcats actually led 2-0 after half an inning in Game One.
“I hope we save some for the next round,” quipped SHS coach Chris Bishop afterwards.
Statesboro jumped on Bainbridge with five in the first of Game Two, then scored three in the second, four in the third and three more fourth. A rowdy SHS home crowd enjoyed every minute of it — while a dejected BHS bench looked on.
SHS starter Crawford Simmons said he wasn’t pleased with his performance on the mound in the second win, but he preserved the shutout by striking out the final batter of the game with two outs and the bases loaded.
“It makes it a lot easier when the offense puts up 15 runs,” said the junior lefty. “Much, much easier.”
The Devils sent nine men to the plate in the first, getting an RBI double from Scott Sarratt, an RBI single by Luke Connell, a Carlton Hendrix double that scored two and an Alex Brown RBI single.
Zach Taylor brought home two with a double in the second and Sarratt hit a sac fly to make it 8-0. In the third, BHS starter Jeremy Coram balked in a run, then Taylor tripled home two more and Sarratt drove in his third run with a bloop to right.
“We got a lot of base runners and we capitalized,” said Taylor. “We got a lot of two-out his tonight, too — a lot of key two-out hits. Plus, putting up 15 runs like this really helps our pitchers arms.”
The Cats (11-16) used three pitchers in the night cap. Control wasn’t an issue — SHS just hit anything and everything.
“We hit the ball really hard (in the second game),” said Bishop. “It was just one of those things.”
Simmons went four innings, allowing just one hit and five base runners. He struck out five.
Statesboro 13, Bainbridge 3, Game One
Statesboro started the series the way it ended it, scoring run after run.
Connell went 3-for-3 with three doubles, four RBIs and a walk. The junior had strained his back earlier in the week during football workouts causing him to miss practice. His start prior to Friday’s game was questionable.
“It was hurting,” said Connell of his back. “I had two days off and I think that might’ve helped me.”
Modesty aside, Connell was a major part of the outburst in Game One.
Sarratt drove in yet another run with a sac fly to center in the bottom of the first to put SHS on the board. Connell then doubled down the left field line to score starter Tony Hill. Hendrix tripled a batter later to give the Devils their fourth run.
Statesboro scored four more in the third on a Connell double to center, a Hendrix walk with the bases loaded and a 2-run single from Alex Brown.
Hill took the mound and pitched around trouble all night. Two unearned runs scored in the first when Flint King popped a ball directly to the bag at second. Some miscommunication caused Josh Ware to mishandle the play, and BHS took a 2-0 lead.
Hill would go on to strand 10 runners in the game, striking out six on 124 pitches.
The Devils added four in the fifth and a single run in the sixth to win the game in walk-off fashion. Aaron Cone pitched a 1-2-3 top of the sixth.
Sarratt finished with four RBI’s on the day, while Connell was 5-6 with three doubles, two singles, a walk and a stolen base. Lead-off hitter Ware went 4-6 with two singles, two walks, a double, a triple, a hit-by-pitch and five runs scored.
The Devils will travel to No. 1 Griffin Wednesday for the second round. The time has yet to be announced.
Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.
The Blue Devils (15-12) pounded BHS 28-3 after a 15-0 Game Two win, compiling 26 hits over the course of a doubleheader. The two squads only played 10 innings due to the mercy rule being enforced in both games. By the time the night was over, few would remember the Bearcats actually led 2-0 after half an inning in Game One.
“I hope we save some for the next round,” quipped SHS coach Chris Bishop afterwards.
Statesboro jumped on Bainbridge with five in the first of Game Two, then scored three in the second, four in the third and three more fourth. A rowdy SHS home crowd enjoyed every minute of it — while a dejected BHS bench looked on.
SHS starter Crawford Simmons said he wasn’t pleased with his performance on the mound in the second win, but he preserved the shutout by striking out the final batter of the game with two outs and the bases loaded.
“It makes it a lot easier when the offense puts up 15 runs,” said the junior lefty. “Much, much easier.”
The Devils sent nine men to the plate in the first, getting an RBI double from Scott Sarratt, an RBI single by Luke Connell, a Carlton Hendrix double that scored two and an Alex Brown RBI single.
Zach Taylor brought home two with a double in the second and Sarratt hit a sac fly to make it 8-0. In the third, BHS starter Jeremy Coram balked in a run, then Taylor tripled home two more and Sarratt drove in his third run with a bloop to right.
“We got a lot of base runners and we capitalized,” said Taylor. “We got a lot of two-out his tonight, too — a lot of key two-out hits. Plus, putting up 15 runs like this really helps our pitchers arms.”
The Cats (11-16) used three pitchers in the night cap. Control wasn’t an issue — SHS just hit anything and everything.
“We hit the ball really hard (in the second game),” said Bishop. “It was just one of those things.”
Simmons went four innings, allowing just one hit and five base runners. He struck out five.
Statesboro 13, Bainbridge 3, Game One
Statesboro started the series the way it ended it, scoring run after run.
Connell went 3-for-3 with three doubles, four RBIs and a walk. The junior had strained his back earlier in the week during football workouts causing him to miss practice. His start prior to Friday’s game was questionable.
“It was hurting,” said Connell of his back. “I had two days off and I think that might’ve helped me.”
Modesty aside, Connell was a major part of the outburst in Game One.
Sarratt drove in yet another run with a sac fly to center in the bottom of the first to put SHS on the board. Connell then doubled down the left field line to score starter Tony Hill. Hendrix tripled a batter later to give the Devils their fourth run.
Statesboro scored four more in the third on a Connell double to center, a Hendrix walk with the bases loaded and a 2-run single from Alex Brown.
Hill took the mound and pitched around trouble all night. Two unearned runs scored in the first when Flint King popped a ball directly to the bag at second. Some miscommunication caused Josh Ware to mishandle the play, and BHS took a 2-0 lead.
Hill would go on to strand 10 runners in the game, striking out six on 124 pitches.
The Devils added four in the fifth and a single run in the sixth to win the game in walk-off fashion. Aaron Cone pitched a 1-2-3 top of the sixth.
Sarratt finished with four RBI’s on the day, while Connell was 5-6 with three doubles, two singles, a walk and a stolen base. Lead-off hitter Ware went 4-6 with two singles, two walks, a double, a triple, a hit-by-pitch and five runs scored.
The Devils will travel to No. 1 Griffin Wednesday for the second round. The time has yet to be announced.
Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.
