BROOKLET — Despite playing nearly flawless baseball for 6-plus innings, the Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets (14-10, 9-5) could not overcome a six-run first inning deficit as the Westside Patriots clinched the 2008 Region 3-AA championship after knocking off SEB 6-4 Thursday.
The Jackets put together rallies in the fourth and fifth innings, but could not even the score, going down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh.
“They played great,” said Westside coach Gerald Barnes. “I give them credit. They could have folded down six runs right there, but they battled back. They always scrap. I think they’ve got good-character people and the coach does a good job with them. You can’t ever say you’re done until it’s over.”
The Patriots (11-0 Region 3-AA) used first-inning doubles by Aaron Davis, Chandler Hall and Anthony Woei-a-sock and a triple by designated hitter Brad Bentley to do its early damage. Matt Conner took the mound in relief to get Southeast Bulloch out of the inning.
He shut down the WHS offense in the final six innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five.
“(Conner) came in and kept it to where we had a chance — an opportunity to win the ballgame,” said SEB coach Stephen Hoyle. “You’ve got to give the credit to Matt and the defense behind him. There were no holes out there. The outfield played well, the infield played well — they strapped it on and tried to make a comeback.”
The Jackets strung together three runs to cut the Patriot lead in half in the bottom of the fourth.
Conner led things off, beating out a throw to first after a bobbled grounder. After he stole second, catcher Casey Woodrum lined a hard RBI single up the middle that bounced off WHS pitcher Hall’s glove.
Dustin Stall drove a single into left field, and David McCarthy drove in Woodrum on a bloop single to left. The runners advanced to second and third on the throw home. Stall brought the score to 6-3 when he crossed the plate on a grounder to second.
Conner took advantage of a Westside error in the bottom of the fifth to bring the Jackets within two. He was on first with two outs when Cory Ward singled up the middle. When the Patriot centerfielder missed the scoop and the ball got by him, Conner circled the bases for his second score in as many innings.
“They could have laid down,” said Hoyle. “(Westside has) been run-ruling everybody in the region. I think that was only the second time they haven’t run-ruled somebody.”
Southeast Bulloch out-hit the Pats 6-1 in the final six innings, but stranded three runners in scoring position.
Seeing how easily Westside has breezed through the season, Hoyle was pleased how his team never quit. He feels that the performance can only motivate the Jackets heading into the postseason.
“This type of game,” Hoyle said, “is only going to make you better when you head into the playoffs. I’m really glad we got to play a tight ballgame. I wish we could have come out on top. We had two great teams battle it out right there, and the outcome could have gone either way.”
With a playoff berth clinched, SEB will close out the regular season at Metter on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
Notes: Three Westside batters were held without a hit, and none had more than one in the contest. … The loss marked the first time this season the Yellow Jackets dropped a region game at home. … Hall went the distance for the Patriots, allowing six hits and three earned runs and striking out eight. … Before the SEB game, Westside had beat 10 straight opponents by at least 10 runs. The Patriots beat Swainsboro on March 18, beating the Tigers 8-7. ... The Jackets will either be the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the GHSA Class AA state tournament and will be on the road for the first round.
Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9404.
The Jackets put together rallies in the fourth and fifth innings, but could not even the score, going down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh.
“They played great,” said Westside coach Gerald Barnes. “I give them credit. They could have folded down six runs right there, but they battled back. They always scrap. I think they’ve got good-character people and the coach does a good job with them. You can’t ever say you’re done until it’s over.”
The Patriots (11-0 Region 3-AA) used first-inning doubles by Aaron Davis, Chandler Hall and Anthony Woei-a-sock and a triple by designated hitter Brad Bentley to do its early damage. Matt Conner took the mound in relief to get Southeast Bulloch out of the inning.
He shut down the WHS offense in the final six innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five.
“(Conner) came in and kept it to where we had a chance — an opportunity to win the ballgame,” said SEB coach Stephen Hoyle. “You’ve got to give the credit to Matt and the defense behind him. There were no holes out there. The outfield played well, the infield played well — they strapped it on and tried to make a comeback.”
The Jackets strung together three runs to cut the Patriot lead in half in the bottom of the fourth.
Conner led things off, beating out a throw to first after a bobbled grounder. After he stole second, catcher Casey Woodrum lined a hard RBI single up the middle that bounced off WHS pitcher Hall’s glove.
Dustin Stall drove a single into left field, and David McCarthy drove in Woodrum on a bloop single to left. The runners advanced to second and third on the throw home. Stall brought the score to 6-3 when he crossed the plate on a grounder to second.
Conner took advantage of a Westside error in the bottom of the fifth to bring the Jackets within two. He was on first with two outs when Cory Ward singled up the middle. When the Patriot centerfielder missed the scoop and the ball got by him, Conner circled the bases for his second score in as many innings.
“They could have laid down,” said Hoyle. “(Westside has) been run-ruling everybody in the region. I think that was only the second time they haven’t run-ruled somebody.”
Southeast Bulloch out-hit the Pats 6-1 in the final six innings, but stranded three runners in scoring position.
Seeing how easily Westside has breezed through the season, Hoyle was pleased how his team never quit. He feels that the performance can only motivate the Jackets heading into the postseason.
“This type of game,” Hoyle said, “is only going to make you better when you head into the playoffs. I’m really glad we got to play a tight ballgame. I wish we could have come out on top. We had two great teams battle it out right there, and the outcome could have gone either way.”
With a playoff berth clinched, SEB will close out the regular season at Metter on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
Notes: Three Westside batters were held without a hit, and none had more than one in the contest. … The loss marked the first time this season the Yellow Jackets dropped a region game at home. … Hall went the distance for the Patriots, allowing six hits and three earned runs and striking out eight. … Before the SEB game, Westside had beat 10 straight opponents by at least 10 runs. The Patriots beat Swainsboro on March 18, beating the Tigers 8-7. ... The Jackets will either be the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the GHSA Class AA state tournament and will be on the road for the first round.
Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9404.