Worth County run-rules Dublin twice in GHSA playoffs

SYLVESTER — The Worth County Rams are moving on to the second round of the GHSA Class A state playoffs after sweeping the Dublin Fighting Irish in a doubleheader Friday at Pope Park.

In what was likely the final Worth County baseball games played at the historic field in Sylvester, the Rams delivered a fitting farewell. A new baseball facility is under construction at Worth County High School and is expected to be ready for the 2026 season.

The Rams blanked Dublin 10-0 in game one and followed up with a 16-6 victory in game two. Behind dominant pitching, clutch hitting, and a relentless offensive attack, Worth County made a statement in their postseason opener.

“I’m excited that we kept our composure early in the day,” said head coach Will Smith. “We had the ball knocked out of the glove twice in the first inning. We sent Pope out with a sweep, so I like that. I’ve spent 25 years on this field—we are going to miss this place—but it’s time to move on. There needs to be a next chapter, and that is our next chapter.”

Game One: Emerson Dominates, Offense Erupts

Game one started as a classic pitcher’s duel between Worth County senior Caden Emerson and Dublin’s Xavier Reese. Both worked efficiently through the first few innings, with the Rams holding a narrow 1-0 lead after the first.

But with two outs in the fourth, the game turned sharply in Worth County’s favor.

Logan Fox reached on a single, and Brady Weaver followed on an error. After two quick strikeouts, Carson Cervantes came through with a clutch two-out single to left and advanced to second on another Dublin miscue. Avery Kilcrease followed with a two-run single to center, and Drake Jones reached on the third error of the inning.

Luke Rogers then delivered an RBI single to right, and when Emerson’s grounder was mishandled, two more runs crossed the plate, capping a six-run outburst.

The Rams added three more in the fifth, and Emerson himself ended the game with a single to center that invoked the run rule.

While Dublin cycled through three pitchers, Emerson remained dominant. The senior right-hander tossed a five-inning one-hitter, allowing just one walk and striking out three in a postseason gem.

Game Two: Rams Power Past Early Mistakes

Dublin jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of game two after a Rams throwing error, but the Worth County offense quickly overwhelmed the Fighting Irish.

The Rams piled up 15 hits, including home runs from Brady Weaver and Hayden Short. Weaver, Short, and Luke Rogers each drove in three runs. Rogers also doubled and tripled, while Cervantes continued his hot day with three more hits and two RBIs.

Kilcrease earned the win, pitching six innings and allowing six runs on six hits. He walked four and struck out five.

Next Up: A Familiar Foe

Worth County now turns its focus to region rival Jeff Davis. The Yellow Jackets (28-4) swept Dodge County in their opening-round series and defeated the Rams three times during the regular season.

The second-round matchup sets the stage for a high-stakes rematch between two programs with unfinished business.