Chargers secure top conference seed heading into post season

Caden Smith hit one of six home runs by the Chargers Thursday as they defeated Gordon State and clinched the GCAA regular season title.

Conner Todaro and Caden Smith produced four hits each to lead a Georgia Highlands College 23-hit attack Thursday afternoon as the Chargers homered six times and beat visiting Gordon State, 27-13.

The win clinched the No. 1-seed for Georgia Highlands (42-9, 18-7) heading into next week’s GCAA playoff tournament at LakePoint in Emerson. The tournament will run Monday through Thursday (May 9-12).

Georgia Highlands will begin tournament action Tuesday at 1 p.m. against Monday’s Gordon State/East Georgia State winner.

Todaro singled in the second, singled in the third, homered in the fourth, and singled in the fifth to help pace the GHC offense to their 42nd win of the season Thursday. Caden Smith also had a double and a home run with three RBIs in his four hits.

Parker Poteet, who finished with three hits, started the Chargers’ scoring with an RBI double in the bottom of the first to tie the game 1-1. After that, the Chargers scored three runs or more in each succeeding frame including eight runs in both the third and sixth innings.

David Smith contributed three hits including a pair of home runs and seven RBIs for Georgia Highlands. Max Kops finished with three hits including a double, one home run, and four RBIs while Ethan Anderson tossed in his own three-hit performance including a double, one home run and three RBIs.

Zayd Brannigan (RBI), Mick Moody, and Ben Olson had the other GHC base hits.

On the mound, the Chargers utilized five different hurlers. Cason Rich was the only Georgia Highlands pitcher to work a scoreless outing. He closed out the final four outs of the sixth and seventh innings allowing just one hit with one strikeout.

Gordon State finished fourth in the conference and 21-24 on the season heading into post-season play.