by RON WEATHERFORD
The Bulldogs’ baseball season ended last week in Commerce in the Elite 8 round of the state playoffs.
There was nothing in the cards that indicated the Bulldogs would have this run in the playoffs after ending their season with 3 straight loses.
As a number 4 seed they reeled off 5 consecutive wins in the playoffs sweeping a number one seed, a number two seed and taking another region champion to the elimination game.
After the season, head baseball coach Brooks Collins had this to say about the season and his team. “It was not the ending that we hoped for but the group grew so much since the beginning of the season. Great group of kids that learned what it meant to play for each other. We return most the the team next year in hopes of finishing what we started.”
After sweeping Baconton Charter and Crawford Co. in the first two rounds, the road warriors traveled just north of Athens to take on another region champion in the Commerce Tigers. The Bulldogs took Commerce to the third and deciding game on Wednesday.
The Tigers play at the recreational complex in Commerce and the short field would come into play. Both teams combined for 9 home runs during the 3 game series.
The Bulldogs jumped to an early lead in the first game Tuesday. In the first inning Gabe Lee, who hustled on a pop fly in the sunny sky that was missed by the Tiger third baseman, was at second. Lawson Mercer put the Bulldogs up 2-0 on the junior’s first homerun of the season.
Mercer and his Tiger counterpart on the mound kept the game scoreless until the sixth inning when Commerce tied the game 2-2 going into the 7th and final inning.
The Bulldogs put two on the board in the top of the seventh on singles by Hudson Henry, Joseph Stewart and Bryce Kearson to take a 4-2 lead.
Kearson, in for Mercer on the mound, struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to seal the 4-2 win in the first game of the series.
Lee and Henry had the multiple hits for the Bulldogs with 2 each.
Mercer started on the mound scattering 6 hits striking out 3. Kearson pitched the final 1 2/3 innings giving up no hits while striking out 4 of the 6 batters he faced.
If you like a high scoring baseball game, then the second game on Tuesday was the one to watch. Both teams combined for a total of 27 runs as Commerce knotted the series taking the marathon game 17-10.
Without diving into the 27 scoring plays just say the second game had a little of everything, hits, walks, balk, illegal pitches and three home runs.
The two teams combined for 20 hits, 11 for Commerce and 9 for ECI. But unfortunately for the Bulldogs they led in walks allowed 12-3.
Bryce Kearson had the hot bat for ECI going 4-4 with a HR, 2 doubles, and a single. Charlie Rehberg ended the game with 2 hits.
The Bulldogs used 5 pitchers during the game but still had all arms available for the third and deciding game on Wednesday.
The short porch really came into play in the elimination game on Wednesday with both teams combing for 5 home runs.
Unfortunately for ECI both of the Bulldogs’ homeruns came with nobody on, leading off the innings.
The Tiger’s 3 homeruns had runners on due to walks ahead of them to score 7 of their 8 runs of the game.
Commerce took an early lead on a two run shot in the first inning for a 2-0 score.
The Bulldogs struck back in the top of the third. Henry and Durden reached on walks. ECI took a 3-2 lead on singles by Stewart, McQuaig and and double by Kearson.
The Bulldogs extended their lead in the fourth on a leadoff home run by Jack Walden to put the Tigers in a 4-2 hole.
Kearson matched Walden in the top of the fourth on a leadoff home run to put the Bulldogs ahead 5-2.
With 2 on after walks, the Tigers tied the score on a 3-run shot to knot the score at 5-5.
The Tiger’s extended their lead on another 2-run home run in the fifth to lead the Bulldogs 8-5.
The game remained scoreless for the final two inning as Commerce took the game 8-5.
Kearson continued his hot streak in the playoff with 3 more hits and his second home run of the series.
Bryce started the game for ECI going 4 innings allowing 6 hits, striking out 2. Mercer closed out the game giving up 2 hits.
The Bulldogs lose one senior this year, returning 8 starters for the 2023 season. Coach Collins commented on his senior Joseph Stewart. “I’d like to thank Joseph Stewart for the last 4 years and what he means to the ECI baseball program. Joe had been very important to our success during his high school career. We wish Joseph the very best in his future endeavors.”
