Woodland evens region mark; Colonels drop sixth straight
After succumbing to a no-hitter by Villa Rica pitcher Logan Smallwood last Friday night on the road, the Woodland offense responded Monday night at home with a 15-hit performance and a 12-6 win to split the two-game region series.
Woodland took a 4-0 lead in the first inning only to have Villa Rica narrow the margin to 4-3 in the top of the third. Woodland then scored three more times to take a 7-3 lead in the bottom of the third.
Villa Rica scored two more runs in the top of the fourth to pull with two runs, but Woodland scored five runs over their next two frames to put the game out of reach.
Tyler Dilcher (3 IP, 5R, 2ER, 5H, 1BB) was credited with the pitching victory for Woodland in relief of starter Ben Ammons (2.2 IP, 1ER, 4H, 1BB). Seth McGill (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 1K) closed out the final four outs.
Bailey Ward went 4-for-4 with a double for Woodland with two RBI. Marco Haro doubled and homered in a three-hit performance that drove in five runs. Chris Mills (2 RBI) and Jordan Lee (double, RBI) both finished with two hits. Dylan Webb (2 RBI), Bryce Evans, Toby Queen, and Garrett Cornett had the remaining Woodland hits.
The win keeps Woodland on pace for one of the final state playoff berths in Region 7-AAAAA. They are now 11-11 overall and 4-4 in region action with eight region games remaining. Woodland is tied for fourth with East Paulding. With their loss, Villa Rica slipped to 10-11 overall and 3-5 in the region.
Woodland opens a two-game region series with Paulding County Wednesday in Dallas and will host the Patriots Friday. Both games are scheduled for a 5:55 p.m. first pitch.
ROME 4, CASS 3
The Cass baseball team’s playoff chances have taken a tough hit over the past eleven days as the Colonels have dropped five straight region games and six total following a 4-3 loss Monday night at Rome.
At 9-14 overall and now 3-7 in Region 7-AAAA, Cass finds its back to the wall with only six region games remaining.
The Colonels started well Monday night, taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
That lead -- behind a strong pitching start by Evan Hinton -- held until the host Wolves struck for four runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 4-3 lead. That was enough for Rome pitcher Braden Hyde who tossed six-straight shutout frames after the opening three-run inning to complete the Wolves' win. Hyde scattered eight hits and a walk while striking out four in the game.
Chandler Bridges had two hits including a double and two RBI to help lead the Wolves. Sevie Andrews also had two hits and two RBI. Xavier Roberts-Donaldson, Alden Astin, and Knox Kadum (double) had one hit apiece.
Steven Spell finished with two hits including a double for Cass. Clay Means (double, 2 RBI), Hinton (double), Bryson Markley, Gavin Young, Hinton (RBI), Nathan Smith, and Logan Nelson added one hit for the Colonels.
Rome (11-8, 6-2) continues to hold second place in the Region 7-AAAAA standings behind first place Carrollton.
Cass travels to Kell Wednesday and will host the Longhorns Friday. Both games are scheduled for 5:55 p.m.
