Stephens Co. Baseball Headed to Sweet 16 State Playoffs

The Stephens County Indians Baseball team is headed to the Sweet 16 in the Quad A State Playoffs.

In a game lasting three and a half hours, the Stephens County Indians outlasted Northwest Whitfield 10-9 Saturday afternoon in Tunnel Hill, Georgia. In what started as a pitchers duel between the Indians Chaz Bridges and the Bruins David Ramirez, the Indians got on the board in the third inning when Bridges walked, was replaced by Griff Pruitt on the bases, and scored on a Kole Rogers Sacrifice Fly.

The Indians added another run in the fifth inning when Dylan Huff singled and scored on a Dawson Sorrells double. Northwest Whitfield tied the game in the 6th inning on back to back doubles, and a single. Stephens County took the lead again in the bottom of the sixth on a Sacrifice Fly from Cole Beitzel scoring Kooper Briley from third.

Northwest Whitfield tied it in the seventh to send the game to extra innings. In the top of the ninth, the Bruins scored three runs on four hits and an error. The Indians down to their last three outs rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth when Chaz Bridges doubled, Dylan Huff doubled home Bridges, Kole Rogers singled home Huff, and scored the tying run on a wild pitch.

In the tenth inning, Northwest Whitfield again scored three runs on five hits and led 9-6 going to the bottom of the tenth. The Indians again down to their final three outs came up big again. Cole Beitzel led off by reaching on an error, Bryson Fowler walked and was replaced on the bases by Ben Hobbs.

After an out, Dylan Huff singled, Davis Swenson walked scoring Beitzel, Kole Rogers singled scoring both Hobbs and Huff to tie the game, Kooper Briley walked to load the bases, and with two outs Austin Page walked scoring Rogers from third with the winning run.

Stephens County Head Coach Greg McCall said this team has a never say die attitude.

“This was an awesome game. Our kids just never quit, never gave up. The fact you score 7 runs in extra innings to come back and win is a credit to their desire to win and move on.”

The Indians used six different pitchers in the game with Swenson picking up the win, The Bruins used three pitchers with Cameron Womac picking up the loss. Kole Rogers had two hits and four RBI’s, and Dylan Huff had three hits to lead the Indians at the plate. The Indians took two of three in the series winning game one Friday night 5-1, and Northwest Whitfield scored seven runs in the top of the seventh inning in game two to take that one 8-6.

McCall said it was many pulling together that made this happen.

“They never quit, a lot of fan support  here pushed them on, a lot of people listening on the radio which is fabulous. Big weekend here and we are glad to be in the Sweet Sixteen and like I said last week we are a pretty dangerous team.”

The Indians will now travel to Locust Grove, Georgia to face Luella High School in a best two of three. A doubleheader is scheduled for Thursday beginning at 4:30 p.m. with a game Friday if necessary.

Other Region 8 teams advancing were Madison County defeating Gilmer County and now will host Spalding, and Oconee County defeating Pickens County and will now play at West Laurens.

In the AAA playoffs, Hart County advanced past North Murray and will now play at Pierce County, and Franklin County was swept by Coahuella Creek, and in AA, Elbert County, Rabun County, and Banks County all advanced.