CANEY BAY — Ware County scored the first five runs and ended the game in the sixth with a consecutive five-run innings to beat Brantley County 15-3 in six innings here Wednesday in junior varsity action.
The March 4 victory gave the Gators (71) a sweep of the home-and-home series after recording a 10-8 win Monday, March 2.
Ware County has one game on the schedule this week traveling Thursday, March 12 to Jesup to face Wayne County at 5:30 p.m.
The Gators struck for single runs in the first and second innings and added three runs in the third in building a 5-0 advantage.
Chaden Carter drew a one-out walk from Chase Murray (3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 2 K, 2 BB, 1 WP) and moved into scoring position on a single by Reavis Barnes (3for-3). The pair pulled off a double steal with Carter scoring on a throwing error.
Ware County scored in the second inning on a two-out error for a 2-0 lead. Ryder Kinnon (1-for-2) walked to start the frame, moved to second on a one-out, wild pitch, and scored when Brodie Burchett’s (1-for-3) grounder was booted.
BCHS stranded two batters in the bottom of the inning. Ellis Westover (1-for-3) lined a leadoff double off Lucas Howard (4 IP 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 11 K, 3 BB, 2 WP) and Matthew Keen reached on a one-out error putting runners on the corners.
A two-out error with the bases empty set up the Gators’ three-run rally. Carter was the beneficiary of the miscue. Barnes followed with a single two pitches later.
Trace Crosby (1-for-2) ripped a firstpitch, run-scoring double for a 3-0 lead. After a balk plated Barnes, Kinnon lined a run-scoring single pushing the lead to 5-0.
Howard worked out of bases loaded jam in the bottom of the inning. Brooks Anderson’s grounder was booted to start the frame. Murray followed with a walk with Kase Crews (1-for-2) getting a oneout, four-pitch walk to load the bases. Howard fanned the next two batters to escape.
The Herons broke through in the fourth. Ethan Sherrod walked to start the inning, moved around to third on consecutive wild pitches, and scored on a Garrett Cox, Jr., sacrifice fly to right cutting the deficit to 5-1.
Ware County batted around in the sixth sending nine batters to the plate to score five runs in opening up a 10-1 advantage.
Brayden Davis (1-for-3) singled off Dalton Bennett (1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 WP), stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a one-out passed ball.
Howard started a string of four consecutive walks, the last three by Jerrin Sirmans (0 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 2 ER,0 K, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 6 WP) and a hit batter. Each of the last four runs scored on a wild pitch.
Crews (1.2 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 K, 2 BB, 2 WP) came in to get the final two outs to end the uprising.
Brantley County scored twice in the bottom of the fifth catching two-out lightning to close the deficit to 10-3.
Eli Thomas (1-for-3) kept the inning alive with a two-out double. Crews followed two pitches later with a run-scoring bloop single to right. After moving up on a passed ball, Crews advanced to third on a single by Dalton Bennett (1-for-3). Crews scored one pitch later on a passed ball.
The Gators put the game away with a five-run sixth. Burchett lined a first-pitch double to get the inning started. He moved to third on a wild pitch and scored the first run on Tyden Bradley’s fielder’s choice groundout.
A walk to Howard followed. Following a twoout, Bradley/Howard double steal, Barnes singled both home for a 13-3 lead. A walk to Crosby and an error on a ball hit by Kinnon loaded the bases. An error on a ball hit by Brayden Tanner allowed the final two runs to cross the plate.
