Ware County’s junior varsity baseball team copped a twinbill from visiting Lowndes Wednesday, to remain perfect through four games.
The Gators (4-0) rallied from deficits in both five-inning games, winning the opener 2-1 and taking the nightcap 5-3.
Ware County has two road games this week. The Gators were scheduled to play Monday, February 23 in Adel against Cook, and Wednesday, February 25 in Baxley vs. Appling County.
Game 1 Gators .............................2
Lowndes ..........................1
Brody Griffin stole home on a delayed double steal, breaking a 1-all tie in the bottom of the third inning to lift Ware County past the Vikings.
Lowndes scored its lone run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly off Blake Gunter (3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 K, 1 BB). The Vikings used a leadoff single, sacrifice bunt and stolen base to set up the run.
Trailing 1-0, the Gators plated their two runs in the third frame. Chase Cone (1-for-1) lined a leadoff single and stole second ahead of Griffin hit by a pitch.
Following a double steal, Brayden Davis (1-for-1) delivered a single to center, scoring Cone with the tying run and putting runners on the corners. The delayed double steal came on the ensuing pitch.
Ashton Suess retired all six batters he faced in relief of Gunter, striking out the last five with three swinging and two looking.
Game 2 Gators .............................5
Lowndes..........................3
The Gators would repeat the winning formula in the finale with a delayed double steal for the lead, and adding an insurance run on a wild pitch in a three-run fourth inning.
Lowndes struck first with a three-run second against Asher Lee (4 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 K, 5 BB). A leadoff single and consecutive walks loaded the bases. All three base runners came around to score without a hit.
Ware County responded with two runs to cut the deficit to 3-2. Trace Crosby and Lucas Howard got the inning started with consecutive four-pitch walks.
Ryder Gilbert reached when his sacrifice bunt was mishandled, loading the bases. Tyden Bradley lifted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Crosby with the first run.
A two-out walk reloaded the bases. Howard raced home on a wild pitch, getting the Gators to within a run.
In the fourth, Gilbert walked with one out, stole second and advanced to third on an error. Bradley followed with a walk, setting up the delayed double theft, tying the game at 3-apiece.
Davis followed a groundout, advancing Bradley to third with a four-pitch walk setting up a second delayed steal attempt. Bradley scored the go-ahead run, with Davis swiping second and racing to third on the throw home. He scored on the ensuing wild pitch offering for a 5-3 lead.
Jaccheus Cooper worked a scoreless fifth for the Gators, with a one-out error allowing a baserunner. Cooper recorded a strikeout.
