Darton beats West Georgia Tech in conference tournament

ALBANY — The Darton State College baseball team has already secured a spot in the East Central District tournament by virtue of winning the GCAA regular-season title.

That would make this week’s conference tournament meaningless, right?

Don’t tell that to Darton coach Scot Hemmings, who’s team won its opener 5-4 Thursday afternoon over West Georgia Tech.

“This things means a lot,” Hemmings said. “It’s on our home field, we’re playing in front of our home crowd and have the No. 1 seed, so there’s still a lot to play for. I’d much rather go up to Tennessee and play a No. 2 seed rather than having a 51-10 Walters State waiting.”

It wasn’t Darton’s most-impressive victory to say the least but the Cavaliers won their third straight and advanced in the winner’s bracket where they will face South Georgia State, who defeated Georgia Highlands 4-1, at noon today. A victory would put the Cavs into the tournament championship game on Saturday.

Darton used a pair of runs without a hit in the fourth inning to grab a one-run advantage, then Hemmings turned the game over to reliever Jeremy Beasley who worked four scoreless innings to notch the save.

The strong right-hander came out of the bullpen and provided a much-needed boost. He retired seven straight before allowing a single and a walk in the eighth. He then set down the final five batters.

“I just go as fast as I can and provide as much energy as I can,” Beasley said. “I was just trying to pump up the team as much as I could.”

For some reason, the Cavalier defense seemed to play better with Beasley on the hill. Of the 14 batters he faced, he induced seven groundouts and relied heavily on his defense who did not disappoint.

Hemmings said Beasley entered the tournament with the second lowest earned run average in conference play at 1.80.

“He’s been good for us all year,” Hemmings said. “He brought a big sense of energy for us, which was contagious. I’m glad he’s only a freshman.”

Sterling Sharp started and earned the victory. Darton staked him to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from John Cable. But West Georgia rallied to take a 2-1 advantage in the second, then increased it to 3-1 on an RBI single from Davis Aiken.

But Cody Ilgenfritz tied the game in the fourth when his single scored William Golden and Colton Thomas before the Knights retook the lead at 4-3 in the fifth.

Sharp loaded the bases and after allowing a run on a sacrifice fly from Blane Swift, pitched out of the jam.

Darton rallied with two runs in the fifth and grabbed the lead before giving the ball to Beasley.

“This was a big win for us … the first time we’ve won this game (in the conference tournament) in three years,” Hemmings said. “I was proud of them and hopefully we can keep going tomorrow.”

Ilgenfritz and Cable finished with two hits each to pace the offense, while Golden finished with a triple and an RBI.