Seven-run third gives PCHS lead in series opener
BEARVILLE — Beck Hodges’ bases loaded, infield hit in the bottom of the third inning gave Pierce County the lead for good at 7-6, en route to a 16-6 region-clinching victory Tuesday over visiting Coffee.
PCHS (19-3 overall, 100 Region 3-AA), ranked second by ScoreAtlanta and third by MaxPreps, extended its winning streak to 12 games. The Hornets (12-8, 2-5), ranked ninth by Max-Preps, had their threegame- winning streak snapped.
The Bears, who should earn a No. 2 seeding in the state tournament, scheduled to start Friday, April 24, repeated as region champions after claiming the title in 2025. Appling County (10-9, 6-3) is 3.5 games back with three games left against Crisp County.
PCHS also won region crowns under 10th-year head coach Andrew Evans (191-102) in 2017 and back-to-back in 2021 and 2022.
In the March 31 series opener, Cook did all of its damage in the first two innings. The Bears scored 15 runs in their first four at bats, ending the game in the sixth by the “10-run mercy rule.”
The Hornets scored their three runs in the first against Emmitt Hall (2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 K, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 1 WP) in the first five batters with half of the four hits for extra bases.
Pierce County responded with a four-run home half of the inning to grab a 4-3 lead.
Chance Williams (2-for-3) lined the first offering for a leadoff single, stole second and moved to third on Hodges’ (3-for-4) first sacrifice bunt. Jack McClellan (1-for-4) followed with a run-scoring single plating the Bears’ first run.
A walk to Jonathan Stone (1-for-3) and a single by Dylan Johnson (2for-3) loaded the bases. A Brantley Willis (2-for-3) infield single scored McClellan getting Pierce County to within 3-2.
Bryson Smith’s ensuing one-out fielder’s choice groundout scored James Alonso, courtesy running for Stone, and Johnson, who raced from second beating the relay throw home for a 4-3 PCHS lead.
Cook followed with a three-run second scoring on a fielder’s choice groundout and a two-out, two-run homer to left, which bounced off the top railing, for a 6-4 advantage.
The Bears closed the deficit to 6-5 with a run in the bottom of the second. Grayson Arington (2-for-4) led off with a single and moved to second on a Hodges one-out single. Stone’s two-out, firstpitch single plated Arington.
After Kolton Brogdon (3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 K, 0 BB) quieted the Hornets’ bats in the third, PCHS exploded for seven runs in the bottom half of the frame staking claim to a 12-6 lead.
Smith stroked a leadoff double and moved to third on Brogdon’s (1-for-3) bunt single. Arington followed suit loading the bases.
A Williams walk evened the score at 6apiece and was followed by the Hodges infield hit scoring Brogdon with the go-ahead and eventual game-winning run as the Bears played station-tostation.
Consecutive one-out walks to Stone and Johnson pushed the margin to 9-6. Willis delivered a run-scoring with Smith’s run-scoring groundout extending the lead to 11-6. Johnson scored the final run on a wild-pitch as Pierce County doubled up the Hornets.
Pierce County plated three runs in the fourth opening up a 15-6 advantage. Williams walked, stole second and scored on a single by Hodges.
A walk to McClellan and Willis getting hit by a twoout pitch loaded the bases. A passed ball scored both Hodges and McClellan for a nine-run margin.
The Bears ended the game in the bottom of the sixth, scoring on Johnson’s one-out single. Stone reached on a oneout error and was lifted for courtesy runner Garrett Stevenson, who moved into scoring position on a passed ball and raced home on Johnson’s opposite field single to right.
