Colonels edge Chattahoochee to win season opener

Cass pitchers Jake Collum, Cody Johnson, and Evan Hinton combined to limit Chattahoochee to only one run on four hits as the Colonels defeated the Class 6A Cougars, 2-1, to open the 2016 season Wednesday night.

Johnson (3.1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 4K, 3BB) was credited with the pitching win after the starter, Collum was lifted in the second inning. Collum yielded no runs and no hits with a pair of strikeouts, but walked four.

Hinton (2.0 IP, 3H, 0ER, 3K) picked up a save by closing out the final two frames on the mound. After four scoreless innings, Chattahoochee took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth.

Cass responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth and then Hinton made the lead stand up.

“I’m pleased with the way our kids competed,” said Cass coach Adam Williams. “That was a really good left handed pitcher we faced tonight and we hung on and found a way to win.”

Collum singled to right field to start the Colonels’ fifth, but was picked off at first. The with one out, Tyler Hendon walked and Hinton singled with a swinging bunt down the third baseline to put runners on first and second base. A wild pitch allowed the two baserunners to move up to second and third and then a strikeout of Brett Gaddy ultimately resulted in two runs. The Chattahoochee catcher had to throw to first to retire Gaddy on a dropped third strike allowing Collins to score on the play. When Hinton threatened the plate behind Collins, the Cougars’ first baseman made a throwing error and Hinton scored the go-ahead run on the same play.

Jordan Reed had a pair of hits for Cass. Gaddy, Collum, and Hinton had the other Colonel hits.

“Chattahoochee has a good club and we battled through a close ball game. That’s the kind of close games we will have to win in our region,” concluded Williams.

Cass (1-0) plays at Adairsville Monday in a 5:30pm start. A game scheduled with Whitefield Academy for Thursday has been cancelled.