BROOKLET — The Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets demolished Johnson of Savannah in both ends of a doubleheader on Tuesday and needed just seven total innings to do it.
     The Jackets (4-2, 3-1 Region 1-AAA) took the first game by a count of 18-0 in three innings before defeating the Atomsmashers (0-5, 0-3) 22-1 in the second game.
    “Overall, I was pretty pleased with how we played,” SEB coach Brandon Peterson said. “We hit the ball well, fielded and pitched well, and just did a lot of the little things right.”
    Those little things turned into one huge inning as SEB plated all 18 of its runs from Game One in the bottom of the first inning.
    Keegan Carter started the frame innocently enough as he flew out to center off of Johnson starter Brandon Majors, but the Jackets then proceeded to get their next 13 batters on base.
    Tyler Epps knocked in the Jackets’ first run with a single to right that scored Carter. Epps provided the inning’s biggest blow in his second at bat when he lined a bases loaded triple to the wall in right center.
    The Atomsmashers hurt their cause, committing five errors in the frame.
    Ryan Adams picked up the win for SEB, tossing all three innings.
    Adams found some trouble in the first inning, but coaxed an inning-ending double play to escape the jam. Adams worked a perfect third inning to close out the contest and struck out five.
    “I thought that Ryan did well for it being his first time on the mound this year,” Peterson said. “I liked the way that he worked around some trouble. He got better as the game went on, which is always good to see.”
    Reggie Thorpe recorded the final four outs on the mound for the Atomsmashers and started the second game.
    Thorpe was much more effective, but also fell victim to shaky defense as Southeast Bulloch — playing as the visiting team in Game Two — scored four unearned runs in the top of the first without hitting a ball out of the infield.
    Thorpe accounted for Johnson’s only run of the day in the bottom of the first as he led off with a solid single, stole second, then worked his way around to score on a pair of wild pitches from Carter.
    Drew Rushing knocked home a pair with a looping single to left to key a 10-run rally in the second inning. SEB racked up a 14-1 lead after three innings and exploded for eight more in the top of the fourth to trigger the mercy rule once again.
    “I felt like we capitalized well on Johnson’s mistakes,” Peterson said. “Even when you’re rolling, you want to keep the same approach. They allowed some guys to reach base and we did a good job of taking advantage.”
    Like Adams had done in the first game, Carter improved on the mound as the game went on, blanking the Atomsmashers after allowing the first inning run.
    Continuing its early beginning to the region schedule, SEB next travels to Baxley on Friday to take on Appling County.

Mike Anthony may be reached at (912) 489-9404.