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, 111pitch outing. Ellis Westover hurled a 1-2-3 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 (7-17, 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 3-0.
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 41.
The Herons plated two runs in the fifth to stretch the lead out to 6-1. 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 five-run advantage.
BCHS put the game away with a four-run sixth as the lead swelled to 10-1.
