Deerfield-Windsor makes quick work of first-round opponent

ALBANY — There were plenty of smiles as Deerfield-Windsor huddled around coach Jonathan Davis on Thursday.

The Knights had plenty of reasons to be happy.

The offense clicked on all cylinders in the first round of the Georgia Independent Schools Assocation Class AAA state baseball tournament.

In Game 1, Deerfield-Windsor opened with an eight-run first inning on its way to a 13-3 five-inning victory over Bethlehem Christian. The bats stayed hot in Game 2 as the Knights scored nine in the second inning and beat Bethlehem 15-0 in five innings to knock the visitors out of the state tournament.

“We did a pretty good job with runners in scoring position,” Davis said. “We stayed inside the ball and didn’t hook the ball on the ground to the pull side. That led to some big innings, so that was pretty good.”

After giving up one-run in the first inning of Game 1, Deerfield sent 13 batters to the plate and scored eight runs. Five of the Knights’ first nine batters drew walks and they all came around to score.

Deerfield-Windsor added four in the third and another in the fourth to move on to an easy victory.

Steven Williams and Bo Bueschen each scored three runs in the first game while Charles Crosby drove in three.

Baylin Moore started the opener and pitched all five innings. He struck out four, gave up four runs on five hits and walked none.

The offensive onslaught continued in Game 2. Howell Logan came up in the second inning with the bases juiced and ripped a double that scored two.

Later in the second with the bases once again loaded, Jack Kimbrel hit a double that cleared the bases. Kimbrel was the 11th batter of the inning.

“I was just looking for the first pitch,” Kimbrel said. “I was seeing fastballs and just trying to make good contact with them.”

Kimbrel went 2-for-2 with two doubles, three runs scored and three RBIs.

After the big second inning, the game remained 9-0 until the fifth when Deerfield added five more. Charles Crosby had a two-run single in the fifth while Baylin Moore roped a two-run double.

Tanner Ford started Game 2 for Deerfield-Windsor and went four innings. He allowed just three baserunners.

“He just threw strikes,” Davis said. “When you throw strikes, you are going to give up hits, but those don’t kill you. He did what he needed to do out there.”

Deerfield-Windsor will play the winner of the Pinewood Christian-Westfield series. The second round is scheduled for next weekend.