By MATT YOGUS
myogus@statesboroherald.net

    The Screven County Gamecocks got a little help from Appling County.
    The No. 4 seed in the GHSA Class AA state playoffs knocked off No. 1 seed Dublin in the first round, allowing the Gamecocks — who swept No. 3 Berrien in Friday’s doubleheader — home field advantage in round two.
    Playing on the home turf is nice, but the Gamecocks aren’t looking past the Pirates.
    “I consider us fortunate to be able to host,” said SCHS coach Billy Pollock, “but when you get to this level of baseball, everybody is good. Appling County is a number four, and there’s a reason they beat the No. 1 seed Dublin, too. They must be peaking at the right time.”
    Although Appling (17-10) dropped its last two region matchups, it came on strong in the playoffs, sweeping Dublin on the road to advance. It was the first time Dublin lost to a Class AA team this season.
    The Pirates have played at a high level all season, with their worst loss — an 8-4 result at the beginning of the season — coming at the hands of Class AAAAA powerhouse Valdosta.
    The Appling style of play will force Screven to do what it does best offensively — manufacture runs. They will use a deep lineup to combat the well-balanced attack.
    “(The Pirates) have some speed, some power and two good pitchers,” Pollock said. “They do a good job of making you hit their pitches, so we’re going to have to go to the plate and be patient.”
    Screven lead-off hitter Walker Stuart (batting .440 with a .500 on-base percentage on the season) has been getting things started all year, and No. 2 hitter Derrick Johnson hits for average (.346) and can move a runner when necessary.
    The Gamecocks use possession-type hitters all throughout the lineup to generate runs, with the power coming from the middle of the order.
    Infielder Jeremy Rosier and Andrew Reddick combined for 22 extra-base hits from the No.3 and No. 4 spots in the order, and Michael Johnson rounds out the lineup, crossing the plate 29 times on the year.
    Pollock has stressed confidence heading into the second round, reminding the team what they have accomplished this season.
    “This is free baseball,” said the Screven coach. “There’s 16 teams left in AA ball, and we’re one of the teams that are still playing baseball. The other ones are probably fishing by now. Our kids were fortunate. They worked to attain this, and we’re doing well with our confidence level right now.”
    Pollock stated that out of the two top SCHS pitchers — Jack Frankhouser and Cameron Hayden — the one who makes the fewest mistakes in practice leading up to today’s doubleheader will get the nod in the first game.
    The doubleheader’s first pitch will be at 4 p.m., and Game Two will follow 30 minutes after game one. The winner in the best-of-three series will face the winner of the Armuchee/North Oconee series.

    Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9404.