Six-run sixth rallies BCHS to opening 11-6 win
CANEY BAY — Dennis Raulerson’s tworun single in the bottom of the sixth inning gave Brantley a one-run advantage en route to notching an 11-6 Region 1-A victory Tuesday over visiting Bacon County.
The Herons (10-14 overall, 5-8 region) ended a six-game region losing streak with the victory in the April 7 series opener. The loss was the fifth in a row for the Red Raiders (7-16, 1-12) and 13th in their last 15 games.
Bacon County struck first in its opening at bat against Gaven Grafford (2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 2 K, 3 BB, 1 HBP). A one-out single and consecutive walks loaded the bases. A hit batter followed forcing home the first run.
BCHS responded with three runs in the bottom of the first to grab a short-lived 3-1 lead. The Herons loaded the bases with one out on a pair of walks to Grafford and Cain Roberson, and Kaden Hendrix (1-for-2) reaching on catcher’s interference.
Jackson Rowell (3-for-5) followed, lining an 0-2 pitch for a two-run double, giving the Herons a 2-1 lead. After a walk to Raulerson (2-for-3) re-loaded the bases, Hendrix raced home on a passed ball for a two-run advantage.
The Red Raiders chased home five runs in the second inning after two outs and nobody on base with seven consecutive batters reaching. Bacon County strung together five singles to go along with a walk and a BCHS error to open up a 6-3 lead.
Brantley County clipped one run off the deficit in the bottom of the inning. Clark Carter (2-for-5) doubled with one out and was replaced by courtesy runner Parker Rentz. A two-out walk to Hendrix was followed by Rowell’s run-scoring single getting the Herons to within 6-4.
Both teams took turns getting runners on base from the third and into the fifth. BCHS cut into the deficit with a run in the bottom of the fifth closing the margin to 6-5.
Raulerson led off with a single and moved over to second on a passed ball ahead of Eli Thomas (2-for-2) getting hit by a pitch. Eli Nielson (1-for-3) delivered a one-out, first-pitch, run-scoring single two batters later.
The Herons exploded for six runs in the home half of the sixth taking a 7-6 lead on Raulerson’s two-run single.
Hendrix’s one-out, four-pitch walk got the inning startered. He moved up on a passed ball and to third on Rowell’s infield hit. After Rowell swiped second, Raulerson lined an 0-1 pitch to right scoring both runners.
Following a theft of second by Raulerson, Thomas laced a run-scoring double for an 8-6 advantage. Carson Coger (1-for-4) lifted a “big fly” to left center for a two-run homer, his first of the year, upping the margin to 10-6.
Ensuing back-to-back walks to Nielson and Grafford was followed by Carter’s runscoring double for the final run.
