BEARVILLE — Top-seed Pierce County had no trouble in its Class AA opening game matchup with 32ndseed Miller Grove rolling to a 17-0, one-hit victory here Saturday in three innings.
The Bears (26-3) set a school-record with a 19th consecutive victory eclipsing the mark of 18 games set during the 2015 campaign. PCHS won its ninth consecutive first round game dating back to the start of the 2021 playoffs.
The series, originally scheduled for April 24, was pushed to April 25 after the Lithonia-based Wolverines (4-15) had transportation problems.
Pierce County won its ninth consecutive game at home improving to 14-1. The 17 runs ties the mark reached twice before for the second most runs in a first round series.
PCHS scored 17 in Game 2 against Tri County in 1994 and 17 against Washington County in Game 1 of the 2014 playoffs. The high is 18 set last year against South Atlanta in Game 2.
Three pitchers worked an inning apiece for the Bears. Kolton Brogdon (one hit, two strikeouts, hit batter) drew his first career start throwing 20 pitches.
Gavin Schreiber (three strikeouts) worked the second inning in his third appearance of the season throwing 20 pitches. Garrett Stevenson (strikeout) made his second appearance twirling the third.
Offensively, Jack McClellan (double, stolen base) and Christian Osbourne collected two hits apiece to lead the 11-hit attack. Chance Williams (three stolen bases, hit by pitch twice), Beck Hodges, Dylan Johnson (double, stolen base, HBP), McClellan and Osbourne drove in two runs apiece.
Pierce County took control early sending 15 batters to the plate in its first at bat scoring 11 runs. Just like the season-ending victory over Clinch County, the first 10 Bears reached before the first out was recorded.
Hodges (1-for-2) had a run-scoring single driving home the first run, Johnson (1-for-2) a two-run double for a 3-0 lead, Brantley Willis (1-for-2) a run-scoring single, Osbourne (2-for-2) a two-run single for a 6-0 advantage, with a seventh run scoring on a passed ball.
Williams (1-for-1) followed with a two-run single upping the lead to 9-0 before the first out. McClellan (2for-3) delivered a run-scoring single and finished off the uprising racing home with the 11th run.
The Bears followed with a six-run second in building a 17-0 lead. Hodges drew a one-out, bases loaded walk forcing home the first run. A passed ball and a run-scoring single by McClellan stretched the lead to 14-0.
Two more run-scoring passed balls extended the margin to 16-0. Pinch-hitter Brody Harris (1-for-1) drove in the final run with a single.
