Lee County-Valdosta series to determine play off seeds

LEESBURG — Three crucial games remain in the regular season for the Lee County Trojans after they split a Friday double-header with Coffee County in Douglas. The Trojans will play three games against the Valdosta Wildcats this coming week to determine which seed the Trojans and the Wildcats will take in the upcoming state playoffs. Houston County has claimed the region championship with only two region losses. Valdosta and Lee County are tied with identical 5-4 region records heading into the three game series this week.

The Trojans will travel to Valdosta for Game 1 of the series with first pitch at 6 p.m. On Friday, Lee County will host the double-header in Leesburg with games beginning at 4:30.

Earlier this weekend, the Trojans blew open a tight game late in Game 1 against Coffee County by scoring 16 runs in the final three innings. Lee County was down 2-1 heading in the fifth inning when the Trojans put four runs on the board to take a 5-2 lead. Lee County added two more in the sixth and then blew the game wide open in the seventh with 10 runs.

Seth Nelson led the offensive attack for the Trojans with three hits in four at bats, including a home run. He batted in six runs and scored three times. Jacob Barwick smacked three hits, knocked in two runs and scored twice in four at bats. Flint Davis, Chase Somers and Kyle Cloud each recorded two hits and two RBIs for the Trojans.

Matt Cooper took the win on the mound for Lee County. He threw six innings, giving up two runs on five hits and four walks. He struck out nine batters. Hill Corley pitched the final inning in relief, recording two strike outs.

In Game 2, Lee County was up 2-1 going into the sixth inning, but Coffee County picked up two runs in the sixth to take a 3-2 lead heading into the final inning. Lee County scored once in the seventh to tie the game, but Coffee knocked in a run in the bottom of the inning to take the win.

The Trojans picked up eight hits during the game, including doubles by Logan Goff, Hill Corley and Seth Nelson. Goff, who had two hits, and Bryce Courson recorded RBIs for the Trojans.

Nelson took the loss on the mound for Lee County.

By Joe Whitfield