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Jackets clinch playoff berth
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    BROOKLET — Southeast Bulloch is going to the playoffs.
    The Yellow Jackets used a six-run second to jump on top of visiting Jefferson County, winning 8-3 Tuesday to secure a spot in the GHSA Class AA state playoffs.
    It was the fifth win in a row for SEB (13-9, 8-4 Region 3-AA) and the sixth out of the last seven. The Jackets are still undefeated against region competition in Brooklet and it will be the first trip to the state tourney for the SEB seniors.
    “Five in a row,” said SEB coach Stephen Hoyle. “We’ve not lost a region game at the house and the guys are really working hard to keep on playing.”
    After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the second, Southeast came back with a vengeance in its half.
    Cory Ward nubbed a single to second and Casey Woodrum reached on an E6. David McCarthy walked to load the bases and then Joe Wilson singled to center to put SEB on the board.
    David Woods nailed a 1-0 pitch to the gap in right-center to give the Jackets the lead, then Tony Raymond beat out a bunt down the first base line to make it 4-2. Courtesy runners Chad Mangrum and Tucker Bettis scored during the rally.
    Justin Daniels hit a sac fly to right to make it 5-2 and Matt Conner reached on an error to increase the lead to four. Every Yellow Jacket in the batting order reached base in the win.
    “It’s all about timing,” said Hoyle. “Their pitcher wasn’t brining smoke today — and in our timing we were all out in front. The guys just kept their hands back  and really worked hard on hitting the ball up the middle and to the right side and good things happened.”
    Dustin Stall pushed the lead to five with a solo shot in the third. The third baseman one-handed the first pitch he saw down the left field line and watched it bend around the fair pole.
    Daniels drove in his second run of the game in the sixth, plating Raymond with two outs with a single up the middle.
    McCarthy went six innings, allowing six Warrior hits. The senior struck out four and walked just one.
    “David McCarthy did a great job on the hill,” said Hoyle. “He got us a lot of ground balls and our infield did a tremendous job making plays. We never let them have the big inning.”
    Tommy Freeman led off the second with a double for JCHS (7-13, 5-7 Region 3-AA). After a groundout, J.D. Riggs brought in Freeman with a roller to short to make it 1-0.  Kyle Davis chopped one over third and Cameron Clark brought him in with a liner to left.
    The Warriors added another in the sixth after A.J. Freeman  singled to left. Courtesy runner Tyler Daughtery advanced to second and third on wild pitches and scored on Cole Tiner’s grounder to third.
    The Jackets host Bryan County in non-region action today at 5:30 p.m. On Thursday, SEB welcomes region undefeated Westside for Senior Night.