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SEB looks for strong kick down stretch of baseball season
Cade Harnage
Southeast Bulloch pitcher Cade Harnage fires a strike against Liberty County on Tuesday in Brooklet. Harnage allowed only one hit and struck out nine in a 7-0 victory. - photo by JOSH AUBREY/staff

The Southeast Bulloch baseball team picked up a huge region victory Tuesday in Brooklet as they knocked off Liberty County, 7-0, behind a one-hit shutout by senior pitcher Cade Harnage.

The Jackets improved to 11-11 overall and 5-5 in region play. With two games left against Liberty County, the Jackets could secure the No. 2 seed in the subregion for the region crossover as they won the season series with Long County (7-5). Head coach Brandon Peterson knows the importance of staying in the moment, but also the importance of sweeping Liberty.

“Cade Harnage was outstanding again on the mound and we were able to pick up the win, which is huge,” Peterson said. “Our bats were a little slow out of the gate but we found a way to score a few runs there at the end. Where we sit in the region right now, we have to win all three games to be the No. 2 seed. We told the guys you can’t sweep the series until you win the first game. We accomplished that, now we have to get to back to business Thursday.”

Harnage went seven innings and allowed only one hit for the third time this season. He also struck out nine and allowed only one walk. Offensively, Harnage also led the way with three hits while Ryan Cammack had two hits and two RBIs and Rhett Morgan had one hit and two RBIs. Peterson has been happy with what he’s seen on the mound but would like to see the Jackets be a little more consistent at the plate.

“We are getting quality looks on the mound for the most part all year,” Peterson said. “We have to find a way to produce more runs. We have been a little too streaky. When we hit the ball, we can score runs in bundles. When we aren’t hitting, we really struggle and that is something you can’t do in the postseason.”

The crossover series will begin next week with the subregions matching up in a No. 1 vs. No. 4 and No. 2 vs. No. 3. In the case of both No. 1 seeds winning, they will play off for a region championship. The No. 1 seeds are Calvary and Jenkins. If the Jackets sweep Liberty, they will earn the No. 2 seed and take on either Beach or Johnson.