Collins Hill sweeps Lee County in second round

LAWRENCEVILLE — After losing Game 1 of its best-of-three second round state playoffs series in heart-breaking fashion, the Lee County Trojans (18-11) found themselves with their backs to the wall as they began the second game.

However, two back-to-back home runs by Cole Zabowski and Al Del Villar in the top of the seventh gave Collins Hill a 6-5 win and a sweep of the series, ending Lee County’s season.

The Trojans made a valiant effort to tie and even win the game in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Nick Bush led off with a walk. Then Manny Chavarilla reached on an error by Collins Hill shortstop William Holland and Bush scored on the play. But that was as close as the Trojans would get.

“I was extremely proud of them,” Lee County coach Brandon Brock said. “After losing the first game, we could have easily thrown in the towel and pitched in the tent, but they kept scrapping and fighting. You’ve got to tip your hat to Collins Hill. They put good wood on it. We left a couple of pitches out over the plate, and they made us pay for it.”

Lee County, the home team in Game 2, trailed 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth before the Trojans scored three runs to tie the game on a two-RBI single by Dallas Greene and a sacrifice fly by Jordan Reep. The Trojans had a great chance to take the lead and then some in the bottom of the third inning as they loaded the bases with one out but weren’t able to capitalize.

The Game 1 loss to Collins Hill was crushing. Leading 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Trojans were two outs away from winning. However, Collins Hill scored four runs on two hits, a walk and three hit batsman to steal a 5-4 victory away from the Trojans.

Lee County starter Michael Reddick had pitched brilliantly to the bottom of the seventh. In six innings, he had given up only one run on five hits, struck out five and walked two.

“He did great. He had a rough first inning, but he only gave up one run and battled out,” Brock said. “He settled down and threw 10 to 15 pitches the next five innings. That’s a good day.”

The trouble started with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Reddick hit Chris Schwartzer, then gave up a base hit to Mark Flores, followed by an RBI double to Alex Keown to cut Lee County’s lead to 4-2.

After Keown’s double, Reddick was replaced by reliever Dean Tompkins. Tompkins then hit William Holland, loading the bases for Zabowski. Tompkins walked Zabowski, scoring Mark Flores from third and cutting the lead to one. Tompkins then hit De Villar, scoring Keown and tying the game.

Then with the bases still loaded, Alec Cargin hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring the Eagles’ winning run.

The game began promising for the Trojans in the top of the first. With two on and one out, Malik Spratling jacked a 1-2 pitch from Collins Hill starter Nick Topoleski over the left field wall for a three-run home run. The Eagles responded with a run in their half of the first, but Reddick was solid through five and one-third innings.

Jordan Adcox was the winning pitcher for the Eagles. After relieving Topoleski in the fifth, he allowed only one hit in two and two-thirds innings.