Baconton Charter baseball rolls to 33rd win, eliminates Irwin County from playoffs

BACONTON — The Baconton Charter Blazers just keep winning. On Tuesday, the Blazers extended their winning streak to 23 games and eliminated Irwin County from the GHSA Class A Division II playoffs with a doubleheader sweep, 7-3 and 9-2, at Blazer Field in Baconton.

Now 33-1 on the season, the Blazers will face Wilcox County (22-7) in the Elite Eight.

In Game One, Irwin County led 3-1 before Baconton erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fifth to secure the comeback win.

The fifth inning began with a controversial call that left Irwin County fans angry. With a runner on first, an Irwin batter hit a deep fly ball to center field. Daniel Cruz appeared to make the catch, then dropped the ball. The runner on first initially advanced but reversed course and returned to first base. Cruz threw the ball to second, and after a brief confusion, umpires ruled both the batter and the runner out — one on the catch, and the other on a failed attempt to advance.

Following the disputed play, Baconton’s bats came alive against Irwin County pitcher Jaylen Martin. Brett Brown singled to start the rally. Corbin Suggs followed with a bunt and reached safely when Martin’s throw to second was knocked away by Brown’s slide. Colton Suggs then laid down a perfect bunt between third base, shortstop, and the pitcher’s mound, loading the bases with no outs.

Martin, appearing rattled, walked both Logan Hurst and Cruz, tying the game at 3-3. A fielder’s choice from Grayson White gave the Blazers the lead, followed by an RBI single to left by Hudson Coronati. Lee Worsham capped the inning with a two-out double to left, driving in the final run.

Coronati also earned the win on the mound, throwing six innings and allowing three runs on four hits and five walks. He struck out nine. Hurst pitched the seventh and closed out the game after Irwin County put two runners on base.

Coronati came up big again in Game Two — this time at the plate. The senior left-hander doubled in two runs in the fifth inning, then added a bases-clearing triple to right in the sixth, driving in three more.

Worsham pitched a complete game for the Blazers, allowing seven hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out six.