Pierce County hosting Cook in semifinal pairing
BEARVILLE — Pierce County used a six-run second inning to pull away from Callaway to finish off a sweep of the Class AA quarterfinal pairing here Wednesday winning Game 2 10-0 in six innings.
PCHS (31-3), the top seed, set the school record for wins in a season while running its winning streak to 24 games while improving to 6-8 in quarterfinal series. Pierce County’s “Elite 8” twin blanking of eighth-seed Callaway (22-15) was their second in two years in the third round. The Bears blanked Crisp County last season with two “run-rule” victories.
Pierce County will host regionmate Cook (2212), seeded 12th, in a “Final Four” matchup scheduled to begin today (Wednesday, May 13) with a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. The “if’ game is slated for Thursday, May 14 at 5 p.m.
The Hornets, who have won 10 of their last 12 outings, swept 21st-seed Jackson in the first round. They upset fifth-seed Columbus winning the “if” game in the “Sweet 16.” Cook then ousted fourth-seed Redan with a two-game sweep in the quarterfinals.
PCHS, making its sixth “Final Four” appearance and third in five years, has dominated the Hornets. The two programs are meeting for the third time in the playoffs dating back to 1997.
Pierce County has posted victories in each of the last 10 matchups. Cook won that 1997 first round series taking the “if” game.
The Bears swept the two-game regular season series in 2013. They followed with a sweep of the 2025 three-game regular season series and 2025 second round playoff series. PCHS also swept the 2026 three-game regular season series.
Pierce County, 3-2 in the semifinals, will be trying to advance to its fourth state title series. The Bears advanced in 1994 beating Gainesville in an “if” game, 2012 beating Lovett in an “if” game, and 2017 with a sweep of Coahulla Creek.
The Bears lost the “if” game at home to Redan in 2022 and was swept in 2025 at eventual champion Rockmart.
Second-seed Morgan County (30-4) will meet 19th-seed Franklin County (20-14) in the other semifinal series. The Lions beat sixth-seed Appling County 11-5 in an “if” game.
Pierce County’s scoring burst was fueled by the first six batters recording two hits apiece to lead the 14-hit attack.
For the second straight game, the Bears scored the only run they would eventually need in the first inning. Beck Hodges (2-for-4) lined a one-out single and was erased on Jack McClellan’s (2-for-4) fielder’s choice groundout.
Jonathan Stone (2-for-2, double) followed with a first-pitch single with McClellan racing to third. Dylan Johnson (2-for-3) ripped a 1-2 offering to left scoring McClellan for the early 1-0 lead.
After Brantley Willis (4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB, 2 HBP) pitched around consecutive one-out singles in the bottom of the first, PCHS took charge in the top of the second sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring six runs for a 7-0 lead.
Christopher Osbourne (1-for-4) stroked a leadoff single. He advanced to second on Bryson Smith’s sacrifice bunt. The fireworks started two batters later with a Chance Williams (2-for-4, two doubles) run-scoring double starting a string of six consecutive batters reaching.
A routine fly ball by Hodges for the third out was dropped with Williams scoring for a 3-0 lead. Hodges, who chugged into second on the miscue, scored on Mc-Clellan’s single.
Stone and Johnson were each hit loading the bases. All three runners scored on a Brantley Willis (2-for-4, double) single and an error in the outfield pushing the lead out to 7-0.
PCHS put two on in the third with a one-out single by Grayson Arington (1-for-2) and double by Williams. Arington was tagged out at the plate trying to score on Hodges’ fly ball to left.
The Bears tacked on a run in the fourth. McClellan lined a leadoff single and scored from first on Stone’s double to left, upping the margin to 8-0.
After leaving two stranded in the fifth, Pierce County put the game on ice with a two-run sixth.
Stone drew a leadoff walk and was removed for courtesy runner Garrett Stevenson. After Johnson followed with a single, a passed ball advanced both runners. Willis ripped a 3-2 offering for a two-run double for the final runs of the game.
Stone and Emmitt Hall each worked an inning apiece in relief of Willis. Stone retired the side in order in the fifth fanning one. Hall surrendered a leadoff hit before setting down the next three batters, one via strikeout, in the sixth.
