Valdosta sweeps Lee County in doubleheader

LEESBURG — The Valdosta Wildcats rode into Leesburg on Friday afternoon and swept two big games from the Lee County Trojans to secure the second seed in Region 1-AAAAAA as both teams head into the state playoffs. Valdosta won Game 1, 10-5, and won the nightcap, 11-4.

The losses move the Trojans to 15-15 on the season and 5-7 in the region standings. Lee County will now be the fourth seed coming out of the region, and while official notifications have not been made, it is likely that the Trojans will travel to Stone Mountain to face Stephenson High School on Wednesday in the first round of the playoffs.

The Wildcats put together a huge fifth inning rally in the first game to come from behind and take 7-5 lead after five innings. The Wildcats added three insurance runs in the seventh to dash hopes of a quick rally by the Trojans.

The Wildcats started the scoring in the bottom of the first off Lee County’s Matt Cooper when right fielder Colby Thomas smacked a two-out home run over the left field fence on a 3-2 pitch.

But the Trojans responded in the bottom of the second with a five-runs that held until the fifth. The rally started with a single by first baseman Jacob Barwick. Shortstop Hill Corley followed with a perfect bunt that couldn’t be handled quickly by the third baseman and both runners were safe.

Right fielder Chase Somers followed with a single to center to load the bases with nobody out. One batter later, Flint Davis took a walk on four straight pitches to score the first run for the Trojans. Kyle Cloud followed with a fielders choice to short to knock in another run. Spencer Hanson got a trip to first base when he was hit in the back by a pitch.

With Seth Nelson at the plate, Valdosta pitcher Jude Ard threw a wild pitch that went to the backstop and Somers raced home for another Trojan score. Nelson ended up walking to load the bases before Logan Goff smacked a single to center to score two more Trojans.

Valdosta skipper Brad Porter headed to the mound and brought in Chris Scarborough to pitch. After walking Barwick, Scarborough got another out to end the inning. The Trojans were unable to score again in game one.

In the second game, the Wildcat offense continued to thrive and put 11 runs on the board against the Trojans. Lee County’s Spencer Hanson and Seth Nelson both hit home runs for the Trojans, but it was not enough against the high-powered Wildcat offense.

By Joe WhitfieldJoe Whitfield

By Joe Whitfield