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| Daniel Courtney allowed two hits in Starr's Mill's 12-2 six inning win over Ware County in Game Two of their semifinal playoff series. |
FAYETTEVILLE-After dropping game one of their Saturday evening AAAAA semifinal playoff series with the Ware County Gators, the Starr's Mill Panthers would need a solid effort in game two in order to extend their season.
Mission accomplished for the Panthers as they overcame a 2-0 deficit with runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to come away with a 12-2, six-inning win over the Gators in the nightcap as Daniel Courtney tossed a two-hitter.
The Panthers (28-11) will face the Gators in the rubber game Monday afternoon at 4:00 with the winner slated to advance to the final series and face the survivor of the series between Loganville and St. Pius X which begins Monday.
The day started with the Gators scoring twice in the top of the seventh inning to reclaim the lead in a 6-5 win as three players had at least two hits.
The nightcap started in the favor of the Gators when Caleb Stewart opened the bottom of the first inning and eventually came home with the initial run as he scored from third on a groundout by Trey Jeffars.
The Gators extended their lead in the bottom of third inning as Stewart walked and after advancing around to third base, came home on a sacrifice fly by Noah Hooks.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Panthers scoring barrage began as White singled to left field and advanced to second on an error and Chay Yeager followed with a single that sent courtesy runner Austin Killingsworth to third.
A sacrifice fly to center field by Eli Jones scored Killingsworth from third and the Panthers were on the scoreboard.
After Courtney retired the Gators in order in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Panthers' scoring attack continued with three runs in the top of the fifth inning.
Heath Whitlock walked to open the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Evan Harrah before scoring the tying run on a double by Thad Ector.
Josh Tate followed with a single and both came home as White lined a double to center field and the Panthers had a 4-2 lead.
The Panthers broke the game open in the top of the sixth inning as Whitlock, Tate, White and Courtney were among those who contributed to the frame.
Courtney retired the side in order ion the bottom of the inning to end the contest.
In the opener, Ware County opened the scoring when Caleb Stewart hit the first pitch of the game over the right field for a solo home run.
Starr's Mill came back to tie the game in the bottom of the first as Josh Tate reached on an infield error and eventually scored when starting pitcher lined a single to right field.
The Gators regained the lead in the top of the third inning as J Aspinwall walked and Jett Justice singled to right field with Stewart following by hitting a double to right that brought Aspinwall home.
Justice advanced to third on the Stewart double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Trey Jeffars to give the Gators a 3-1 lead.
The Panthers tried to rally in the bottom of the fourth inning as White doubled to left field and after Eli Jones reached on an error, Courtney grounded into a fielder's choice allowing courtesy runner Killingworth to score from third base.
Ware County reclaimed a two run advantage in the top of the sixth inning as Jeffars reached on a one out single to center field and with two
outs
Shi Christmas hit a mishandled pop fly that allowed courtesy runner Weathersby to score.The lead was short lived as Starr's Mill came back in the bottom of the frame with three runs to assume a 5-4 lead.
With one out,
Jones reached on a bloop single to center field that allowed courtesy runner Bo Walker to reach second and Courtney followed by reaching on an infield error that loaded the bases.Ryder Wagenknecht tied the game at 4-4 when he lined a double to right that allowed Walker and Jones to score.
Courtney, who advanced to third on Wagenknecht's double, came home with the lead run when H Whitlock reached on a bloop single to center field and Panther fans were ecstatic.
Yeager, who went six innings, allowing four runs on five hits and recording five strikeouts, was relieved in the top of the seventh inning by Josh Tate.
The frame began well for Tate as he retired Aspinwall on strikes, but a double by Justice, a single by Stewart and a sacrifice fly to right field by Gators starting pitcher Hooks followed the game was tied at 5-5 as Justice scored.
The go ahead run scored as Jeffars doubled to left field allowing Stewart to scores and the Gators threatened to add to the lead as Barnes singled and Weathersby tried to scored but he was tagged out at the plate to end the frame.
Hooks would keep the Panthers from reclaiming the lead in the bottom of the frame as he allowed a single by White on the way to a seven-hitter.
White went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Starr's Mill in hitting while Stewart, and Jeffers each had three hits for Ware County.
