BEARVILLE — Harrison Davis’s firstpitch, three-run homer in the top of seventh sparked Ware County Middle School to an 8-5 come-from-behind win here Thursday over Pierce County Middle School.
The loss for the Bears (7-2) was their first in Southeast Georgia Middle School Athletic Conference action after five wins.
Trailing 5-3 and down to their last three outs, the Gators plated five runs to take the lead for good.
Walker Thrift (4-for-4) lined an 0-2 pitch to left off Drew Stipe (2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 2 K, 0 BB) to start the rally. Holt Roberson’s ensuing grounder two pitches later was bobbled. Harrison Davis (1-for-3) followed with a first-pitch homer to left barely clearing the fence for a threerun clout and a 6-5 lead.
Following the first out, Mason Thomas (1-for-4) and pinch-hitter Garrison Pohl dropped singles into center ahead of Coast Chandler getting hit by by a Colton McCook (.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP) delivery loading the bases. Collin Carter (1-for-4) lined a two-run single to right extending Ware Middle’s lead to 85.
Davis (3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 K, 2 BB), the third Gator pitcher of the game, pitched around an error and walk in the bottom of the seventh.
The Gators plated the first run of the game in the third inning against PCMS starter Colton O’Berry (4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP) for a 1-0 lead. Jackson Augustine worked a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on Thrift’s single to center.
Pierce Middle came right back scoring twice in the bottom of the inning against Thomas (2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 K, 1 BB) to take a 2-1 lead.
McCoy Howard (2-for-2) legged out a leadoff infield hit. After hitting into a fielder’s choice, Stipe went from first to third on an errant pickoff attempt by Thomas. McCook (2-for-2) laced a runscoring single to left knotting the score at 1-apiece.
McCook stole second and advanced to third as Jacob Gruver (1-for-3) drew a walk. Asher Strickland followed with a run-scoring groundout giving PCMS a 21 lead.
Ware Middle grabbed its second lead of the game in the visiting half of the fifth scoring twice for a 3-2 advantage. Thrift laced a one-out single and advanced to third when Roberson’s grounder was booted.
After Roberson advanced to second on two-out passed ball, Thomas ripped a two-run double for the short-lived 3-2 lead.
The Bears responded with a three-run rally in the bottom of the inning. McCook led off with a first-pitch, opposite field triple to right. Gruver’s ensuing first-pitch double tied the score at 3-all. He took third on an error.
Strickland followed with a walk from Augustine (1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 K, 3 BB, 1 WP), who came on in relief of Thomas in the third. Gruver gave Pierce Middle a 4-3 lead stealing home. Jack Jameson’s triple to right-center scored Gruver for the 5-3 lead.
