CHULA — The Tiftarea Panthers only put up five earned runs over the course of Saturday’s doubleheader against Bulloch Academy in the GISA Class AA Elite Eight, but it was enough to sweep the Gators on the day and advance to the Final Four.
After coming back to win the first game of the series Firday, that Gators took an early lead Saturday morning, going up 4-1 in the first inning and holding that lead until the fourth.
Tiftarea got one run back in the fourth, two in the fifth to tie it at 4-4 and two more in the top of the seventh to take a 6-4 lead.
A Walker Blitch sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh drove in Clayton Rogers to bring BA within one, but the Panthers held on to tie the three-game series at 1-1.
Taylor Burke led the Gators at the plate going 3-for-4 with a run. Rogers finished 2-for-3 and Baily Smith fnished 1-for-2.
Bulloch totaled seven hits and stranded eight baserunners in the game.
Win Lee started on the mound, pitching four innings and allowing two earned runs.
Unearned runs were the story in the fnal game as the Panthers only earned three in the 12-6 win that ended the Gators’ run.
Bulloch scored three in the second to turn a four-run defecit into a 4-3 ballgame, but TA got three in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth on five BA errors that were committed in the span.
Lee (2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI), Matthew Sapp (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Brian Atkinson (3-for-3, 2B) and freshman Forrest Spencer (1-for-2, R) led BA offensively.
No. 1 seed Tiftarea will join all three other No. 1 seeds from Class AA in the Final Four.
Boys track wraps up at state
JEFFERSON — Screven County (T-5th, 24 points) had a strong showing Saturday on the final day of the GHSA boys state track meet Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Building on Cornelious Roberts’ second-place finishes in the high jump and long jump Thursday, SCHS also saw Brandon Jones finish second in the 110-meter high hurdles (14.91 seconds) and DeVaugn Bryanr finish 12th in the 3200 (11:06.138).
Jenkins County tied for 11th overall with 16 points at the three-day event.
Saturday, Charles reynolds took 7th in the 110m high hurdles (15.857) and 7th in the 300m intermediate hurdes (41.929), Dag Gay took 5th in the 200 (22.881) and the 1600 relay team took second (3:30.519).
Other top finishers were Claxton’s Tevin Valentine (8th-place 400, 1:21.642) and Bryan County’s 400 relay team (7th, 43.8).
Portal golf tournament
PORTAL — On Friday, June 4, Portal Middle/High school will be hosting a four-man scramble golf tournament at Willow Bend Golf Course in Metter.
The tournament will begin at noon with a shotgun start.
All proceeds from the event will go towards the Portal athletic department as it strives to complete the weight room for the new school opening this fall.
The entry fee for each team member is $60 and includes a lunch.
For individuals or businesses interested in advertising at the tournament, holes may be sponsored for $200 per hole.
For more information, please contact Portal football coach Cherard Freeman at (912) 536-1057.
BA basketball camp
Bulloch Academy head basketball coach Chandler Dennard invites all local and area boys and girls going into grades 2-5 to sign up for the 2010 Gator Basketball summer camp.
The annual camp, conducted by Coach Dennard and several present BA basketball players, runs from June 1-4 from 9 a.m.-noon in the school’s gymnasium. This instructional opportunity will provide campers with basic basketball fundamentals in a relaxed, fun-fill environment. Campers will receive a t-shirt and opportunities to win awards in various skill-level competitions.
The cost is $75 per camper if paid by June 1 and $85 after the deadline. For more information, contact Coach Dennard (536-9386) or the school’s athletic department at 764-0715.
