Productive sixth inning lifts Woodland to win at Kennesaw Mountain
A four-run sixth inning vaulted Woodland to a 7-4 non-region road win Saturday at Kennesaw Mountain. The Wildcats led 3-1 through four innings, but the host Mustangs knotted the score 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth. Woodland’s four-run response was enough for a 7-3 lead and the Wildcats held on for a three-run win in Cobb County.
The Wildcats’ sixth inning started harmlessly enough. Zach Wilson singled with one out and was still at first with two outs in the inning. Back-to-back hit batsmen, however, loaded the bases for Dallas Adams. He coaxed a walk to force in one run before Carter Heath smacked a two-run double into centerfield.
Following a Mustangs’ pitching change, Adams scored on a wild pitch to give Woodland a 7-3 lead they would not relinquish.
Coming off a tough, extra innings loss Friday night at home to Paulding County, the Wildcats got a strong start from pitcher Trevor Collum (2.2 IP, 1ER, 3H, 2BB, 2K). Fisher Davis (1.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1BB, 1K), Zach Wilson (1 IP, 2ER, 1H, 1BB), and Jackson Rutledge (1 IP, 1ER, 2H) pitched in middle relief. Jacob Gravett (1 IP, 0R, 0H) closed out the seventh inning.
Wilson was credited with the pitching win. Gravett picked up a save. Peyton Posey had three hits for Woodland including a double. Carter Heath contributed two hits including a double and three RBI. Scotty Smith also had a two-hit game. Chase Carson (RBI), Wilson, and J.T. Hampton had the other Wildcats’ hits. Dallas Adams tossed in a pair of RBI.
Woodland (6-5, 1-1) travels to Rome Monday at 5:55 p.m. as the Wildcats return to Region 7-AAAAA action.
CASS SHUTOUT TWICE IN REGION DOUBLEHEADER
The Cass baseball team was shutout in both games of a doubleheader with Villa Rica Saturday, 4-0 and 7-0, as both teams opened play in Region 7-AAAAA.
Johnny Bravy (7 IP, 0R, 2H, 4BB, 14K) tossed a two-hitter and struck out 14 in the opener. Jacob Turner went the distance scattering five hits and fanned five in the second game.
Jayden Smith (5 IP, 3ER, 6H, 3BB, 2K) suffered the first game loss on the mound for the Colonels. Trey Scott (1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 1BB) tossed an inning in relief.
In Game 2, Jordan Gani (4 IP, 7R, 4ER, 7H, 3BB, 4K) was the losing pitcher for Cass. Carson Hill (2 IP, 0R, 1H, 2K) and Scott (1 IP, 0R, 1BB, 2K) both worked in relief.
In the opening game, the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Villa Rica then added two runs in the fifth and an insurance run in the sixth as they out-hit Cass seven to two. Logan Nelson and Blaine Ingram had the only Cass hits.
In Game 2, the Wildcats scored four times in the first inning and added three insurance runs in the fourth. Cass managed only four hits. One each by Ingram, Matt Ballas, Karson Kelley, and Kyle Miller.
Villa Rica improved to 3-4 on the season and 2-0 in region action.
Cass (5-4, 0-2) hosts Hiram Monday at 5:55 p.m. and will travel to the Hornets home field Wednesday for a 5:55 p.m. first pitch.
