By David Miller
The Appling County Pirates (25-1 overall, 16-0 region 2AA) ended the regular season this week with wins over Brantley County (14-10, 10-6) 8-7 on April 27 and over Calvary Day (17-8, 12-1 3A-A) 5-2 on April 28.
Pictured above is Pirate (15) Devin Causey holding the Heron runner on at first base
Pirates end regular season with win, playoffs start Friday
State Playoffs Pairings Set
The Class AA state playoffs will begin on May 4th. The top four teams from region two will face off against the top four in region one.
The Pirates (top seed in region 2AA) will take on the Thomasville Bulldogs (fourth seed region 1AA) in Baxley.
The series will begin Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. with a doubleheader. The second game will start approximately thirty minutes after the conclusion of game one. The “if” game will be on Saturday, May 5 at 1:00 p.m.
Other pairings that involve region 2AA include: Brantley County (fourth seed 2AA) at Berrien (top seed 1AA), Jeff Davis County (third seed 2AA) at Cook County (second seed 1AA) and Pierce County (second seed 2AA) hosting Fitzgerald (third seed 1AA).
Pirates Wrap up Regular Season with 5-2 Win over Calvary
The Pirates ended the season Saturday with a hard fought win over the Calvary Day Cavaliers in Savannah.
The Cavaliers struck first in the bottom of the first on a walk, with the runner later scoring on a single off of Pirate starter Josh Deen (6-0. 1.24 ERA)
The Pirates struggled to get the bats going early in the contest. The Cavalier pitcher, an LSU signee, Hunter Newman held the Pirate bats in check through his four innings of work. He allowed only allowed one hit. The hit came in the top of the second off the bat of sophomore Gage Patton.
Deen matched Newman pitch for pitch as he pitched six strong innings of his own. He allowed only two hits and one run. He allowed only two more base runners after the first inning. A single in the third and a walk in the sixth, striking out seven batters on the day.
The Pirates tied the game at one run apiece in the top of the fifth inning. Patton reached base again, this time on a leadoff walk. Guner Sellers, the hero in Friday night’s game, laid down a bunt to move Patton into scoring position. Colby Griffin singled to left to score Patton.
The Pirates took a 2-1 in the top of the sixth. Byron Buxton doubled to left field. Pinch hitter Devin Causey drove a ball to the right center field gap to score Buxton.
The Pirates stretched their lead to 5-1 in the top of the seventh inning. After two outs, Zack Smith walked, Justin Javis singled, and Buxton walked to load the bases. Jeremy Ammons lined a ball into the right field corner that cleared the bases. Ammons tried to stretch the hit into a triple but was thrown out to end the inning.
Mathew Shumans came on in the seventh to preserve the victory for the Pirates. He allowed one run on one hit.
Pirates Beat Brantley with a walk-off Single in Seventh Inning on Senior Night
Friday night marked the last regular season home game for the nine graduating seniors of 2012. All nine seniors started the game for the first time this season.
The Herons scored first in the top of the first without the aid of a hit off of starter Byron Buxton. The Heron runner reached on a wild pitch on a third strike. And later scored on another wild pitch.
The Herons starting pitcher kept the Pirates off stride at the plate the first time through the lineup. However, the second time through the Pirate batters were able to get their timing down. After two outs in the third, Byron Buxton hit a long homerun over the 380ft. sign in center field. After a walk to Jeremy Ammons, Josh Barber blasted a 2-2 pitch over the left field fence for a two-run homer giving the Pirates a 3-1 lead after three innings.
The Pirates added a single run in the fourth on two hits. Justin Javis led off the inning by getting hit with a pitch. Colby Griffin flied to right. A throwing error by the right fielder allowed Javis to reach second with one out. Dylan Hutchinson followed with a solid single past the third baseman putting runners on the corners with just one out. A sacrifice bunt by Mathew Shumas moved Hutchinson to second with two outs. Byron Buxton legged out an infield single to plate Javis.
The Herons tied the score at four in the fifth on two hits. The Pirates took the lead right back 5-4 in the bottom half on a solo homerun by Josh Barber, his second of the night.
The Herons stormed back with three more runs in the top of the sixth on two hits. The Herons lead was 7-5. The Pirates went quietly in the bottom of the sixth. The Herons missed an opportunity to put the game away in the top of the seventh as they left the bases loaded failing to score any runs.
The stage was set for another dramatic come from behind win in the seventh for the Pirates. The Herons reliever struck out Barber to start the seventh. Miller also struck out, but was able to reach first as the ball got away from the catcher on the third strike. Gage Patton walked to push Miller to second. Justin Javis singled to right field just under the outstretched glove of the second baseman. Miller slid safely in to home with the Pirates sixth run. Patton was thrown out trying to reach third. With two outs and Javis at first. Colby Griffin walked and Zack Smith got hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Guner Sellers came to the plate with an opportunity to send the Pirate faithful home with a victory. Sellers worked the count to two balls and no strikes.
The next pitched turned out to be the last of the night as Sellers hit a ground ball just inside the third base bag for a single to drive home Javis and pinch-runner Tyler Sapp.
For more information please visit www.applingpiratesbaseball.com and facebook.com/baxleynewsbanner
The Class AA state playoffs will begin on May 4th. The top four teams from region two will face off against the top four in region one.
The Pirates (top seed in region 2AA) will take on the Thomasville Bulldogs (fourth seed region 1AA) in Baxley.
The series will begin Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. with a doubleheader. The second game will start approximately thirty minutes after the conclusion of game one. The “if” game will be on Saturday, May 5 at 1:00 p.m.
Other pairings that involve region 2AA include: Brantley County (fourth seed 2AA) at Berrien (top seed 1AA), Jeff Davis County (third seed 2AA) at Cook County (second seed 1AA) and Pierce County (second seed 2AA) hosting Fitzgerald (third seed 1AA).
Pirates Wrap up Regular Season with 5-2 Win over Calvary
The Pirates ended the season Saturday with a hard fought win over the Calvary Day Cavaliers in Savannah.
The Cavaliers struck first in the bottom of the first on a walk, with the runner later scoring on a single off of Pirate starter Josh Deen (6-0. 1.24 ERA)
The Pirates struggled to get the bats going early in the contest. The Cavalier pitcher, an LSU signee, Hunter Newman held the Pirate bats in check through his four innings of work. He allowed only allowed one hit. The hit came in the top of the second off the bat of sophomore Gage Patton.
Deen matched Newman pitch for pitch as he pitched six strong innings of his own. He allowed only two hits and one run. He allowed only two more base runners after the first inning. A single in the third and a walk in the sixth, striking out seven batters on the day.
The Pirates tied the game at one run apiece in the top of the fifth inning. Patton reached base again, this time on a leadoff walk. Guner Sellers, the hero in Friday night’s game, laid down a bunt to move Patton into scoring position. Colby Griffin singled to left to score Patton.
The Pirates took a 2-1 in the top of the sixth. Byron Buxton doubled to left field. Pinch hitter Devin Causey drove a ball to the right center field gap to score Buxton.
The Pirates stretched their lead to 5-1 in the top of the seventh inning. After two outs, Zack Smith walked, Justin Javis singled, and Buxton walked to load the bases. Jeremy Ammons lined a ball into the right field corner that cleared the bases. Ammons tried to stretch the hit into a triple but was thrown out to end the inning.
Mathew Shumans came on in the seventh to preserve the victory for the Pirates. He allowed one run on one hit.
Pirates Beat Brantley with a walk-off Single in Seventh Inning on Senior Night
Friday night marked the last regular season home game for the nine graduating seniors of 2012. All nine seniors started the game for the first time this season.
The Herons scored first in the top of the first without the aid of a hit off of starter Byron Buxton. The Heron runner reached on a wild pitch on a third strike. And later scored on another wild pitch.
The Herons starting pitcher kept the Pirates off stride at the plate the first time through the lineup. However, the second time through the Pirate batters were able to get their timing down. After two outs in the third, Byron Buxton hit a long homerun over the 380ft. sign in center field. After a walk to Jeremy Ammons, Josh Barber blasted a 2-2 pitch over the left field fence for a two-run homer giving the Pirates a 3-1 lead after three innings.
The Pirates added a single run in the fourth on two hits. Justin Javis led off the inning by getting hit with a pitch. Colby Griffin flied to right. A throwing error by the right fielder allowed Javis to reach second with one out. Dylan Hutchinson followed with a solid single past the third baseman putting runners on the corners with just one out. A sacrifice bunt by Mathew Shumas moved Hutchinson to second with two outs. Byron Buxton legged out an infield single to plate Javis.
The Herons tied the score at four in the fifth on two hits. The Pirates took the lead right back 5-4 in the bottom half on a solo homerun by Josh Barber, his second of the night.
The Herons stormed back with three more runs in the top of the sixth on two hits. The Herons lead was 7-5. The Pirates went quietly in the bottom of the sixth. The Herons missed an opportunity to put the game away in the top of the seventh as they left the bases loaded failing to score any runs.
The stage was set for another dramatic come from behind win in the seventh for the Pirates. The Herons reliever struck out Barber to start the seventh. Miller also struck out, but was able to reach first as the ball got away from the catcher on the third strike. Gage Patton walked to push Miller to second. Justin Javis singled to right field just under the outstretched glove of the second baseman. Miller slid safely in to home with the Pirates sixth run. Patton was thrown out trying to reach third. With two outs and Javis at first. Colby Griffin walked and Zack Smith got hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Guner Sellers came to the plate with an opportunity to send the Pirate faithful home with a victory. Sellers worked the count to two balls and no strikes.
The next pitched turned out to be the last of the night as Sellers hit a ground ball just inside the third base bag for a single to drive home Javis and pinch-runner Tyler Sapp.
For more information please visit www.applingpiratesbaseball.com and facebook.com/baxleynewsbanner
Pictured above are the nine Pirate Seniors Mathew Shumans, Dylan Hutcheson, Kyle Miller, Devin Causey, Justin Javis, Jeremy Ammons, Byron Buxton, Josh Barber, Colby Griffin and their parents before their last regular season game against Brantley County on Friday, April 27.
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