ALMA — Kaden Hendrix allowed one run over six innings of work pitching Brantley County to a Region 1-A series-clinching win here Thursday in a 10-1 victory over Bacon County.
Hendrix scattered five hits, fanned seven, walked three and hit a batter during his April 9, 111-pitch outing. Ellis Westover hurled a 1-23 seventh inning fanning one to close the door.
The Herons (11-14 overall, 6-8 region) clinched their second region series victory to go along with a three-game sweep of Berrien the week of March 17 thru March 20.
The loss was Bacon County’s (717, 1-13) sixth in a row.
Brantley County struck for three runs in the first inning. Gavin Grafford reached on an error, advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third (one of six stolen bases for BCHS) and scored on Clark Carter’s (1-for-2) sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead two batters in.
Hendrix hit into a fielder’s choice after a Cain Roberson walk. Hendrix’s courtesy runner, Dalton Bennett, swiped second and third scoring on a Jackson Rowell single for a 2-0 advantage.
Eli Thomas (1-for-3) followed with a single putting runners on the corners. Rowell scored on a delayed double steal extending the lead to 30.
The Red Raiders cashed in on a fielding error starting the home half of the inning. The runner eventually scored on a two-out single cutting the deficit to 3-1.
Brantley County returned the favor, capitalizing on a one-out error by the home team. A second Grafford grounder was misplayed. He stole second and scored on Carter’s single two pitches later upping the lead to 4-1.
The Herons plated two runs in the fifth to stretch the lead out to 61. Rowell kept the inning alive with a two-out walk. Consecutive wild pitches (seven total for Bacon County) advanced Rowell to third ahead of a walk to Thomas.
Rowell raced home from third on the third wild pitch of the inning for the first run. Following a balk to move Thomas over the second, Carson Coger (1-for-1) lined a 1-2 pitch for a run-scoring single and a fiverun advantage.
BCHS put the game away with a four-run sixth as the lead swelled to 10-1.
