Lions eliminate Tigers in Sweet Sixteen round

The Adairsville Tigers were eliminated Saturday in the second round of the Class AAA state baseball playoffs by Franklin County in a doubleheader sweep.

The host Lions won the opening game 10-0 and took the second contest by a 12-8 final.

With their sweep, Franklin County (27-7) wins the best-of-three Sweet Sixteen series and advances to the Class AAA quarterfinals at Pike County. The Pirates swept Calvary Day on Saturday 10-3 and 4-1.

Franklin County starting pitcher Easton Gailey was the star of the opener Saturday. The freshman right-hander allowed just three hits and a pair of walks in his six-inning shutout. Gailey struck out five.

Senior outfielder Garrett Garner paced the Lions’ offense with three hits including a homer, a double, and five RBIs. Dee Oliver also had three hits while Ty Peeples (RBI), Duncan Beasley (two RBIs), and Tyler Welborn (RBI) all added two hits each.

The three Tigers with hits were Chris Roper (double), PJ Weeks, and Evan Sanders.

Jack Nelson (4 IP, 5ER, 9H, 5BB, 4K) was tagged with the opening game loss. Jack Whitley (1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 2K) and Grayson Belcher (0.2 IP, 4ER, 4H, 2K) also pitched for the Tigers.

In Game 2, Adairsville outhit Franklin County seventeen to nine but finished four runs short on the scoreboard.

The Tigers led 4-2 after three innings before a six-run fourth inning put the Lions ahead for good. Adairsville scored a single run in the sixth and Evan Sanders popped a three-run home run in the seventh but it wasn’t enough for a comeback.

Sanders finished with four hits including his homer. Jarrett Scott (RBI) and Tyler Driggers followed with three hits each. Weeks contributed a pair of hits and one RBI. Roper also had two hits. Peyton Bowen (RBI), Nelson (two RBIs), and Whitley added one hit each for Adairsville.

Oliver and Peeples combined for five hits including three doubles and one home run to pace the Lions’ attack.

Beasley (5.2 IP, 5ER, 14H, 1BB, 6K) picked up the pitching win for Franklin County by working into the sixth inning. Cade Gibson (0.1 IP, 0R, 1H) and Caden Cawthon (1 IP, 3R, 0ER, 2H) closed out the contest for the Lions.

Adairsville utilized a trio of pitchers in the loss including Dawson Craig (4 IP, 8R, 2ER, 7H, 2BB, 1K), Kaiden Coker (1.2 IP, 2ER, 2H, 3BB, 2K), and Scott (1.1 IP, 2R, 1ER, 0H, 3BB, 1K).

The Tigers’ season ends with a 17-13 record.