VHS Sweeps Banks County

The Vidalia Indians hosted the Banks County Leopards Wednesday afternoon for a double header in the 2nd Round of the state playoffs. The Indians swept the double header with two five inning run rule wins by a 12-2 score in the first game and 13-1 score in the second game. That gives the Indians a 24-9 record as they head into the Elite Eight round next week.

Game 1

Bryson Whited started on the mound for the Indians. He pitched all five innings giving up two runs, while walking none, striking out four and picking up the win. He had good defense behind him as the Indians made no errors and turned a double play. On offense the Indians pounded out 12 hits and scored 12 runs. The offense was led by Ty Dalley, Walker Moncus, Jordan Walden and Caden Spivey with two hits each.

The Leopards were set down 1,2,3 in the top of the 1st inning, and it seemed the Indians would do the same as the first two batters went easily in the bottom half. However, with two outs Hughes Graham drew a walk, Moncus followed with an RBI double, Walden drew a walk and Spivey drove both of them home with a double making the score 3-0 Indians after one inning.

Again in the 2nd inning Whited set the Leopard’s down 1,2,3, and again it didn’t look promising for the Indians in the bottom half as the first two batters again made quick outs. Whited was then hit by a pitch, followed by a single from Dalley and both runners moving up on the throw from the outfield. Graham followed with a single to drive in both runners, giving the Indians a 5-0 lead after two innings.

In the top of the 3rd inning the Leopards were able to bunch three hits continued from page

and a sacrifice bunt to score a run. In the bottom half Walden had a leadoff single, Spivey drew a walk, Bennett followed with an RBI single, Banks followed with an RBI safety squeeze bunt. Davis and Whited followed with singles, Dalley drew a walk to load the bases, and Graham hit a ground ball to the shortstop who made an error and the left fielder made an error allowing all three runners to score and Graham to move to second. Moncus followed with an RBI single but was thrown out trying to stretch it. Walden followed with his second hit of the inning and Spivey also singled, but the Indians couldn’t plate any more runs leaving the score at 12-1 after three innings.

Neither team scored in the 4th inning, but the Leopards were able to scratch out one more run in the top of the 5th inning. The Indians still had the 5 inning run rule win 12-2.

Game 2

Caden Spivey started on the mound for the Indians going three innings, giving up one unearned run, on two walks, two hits and striking out six. Bryce Morley came on to pitch the 4th inning, getting the Leopards 1,2,3. Jordan Walden came in to pitch the 5th inning, striking out the side to secure the win. The Indians offense pounded out 14 hits in this game, including five doubles and a homerun. The offense was led by Moncus with three hits while Graham, Bennett and Banks contributed two hits each.

The Indians failed to score in the top of the 1st inning, but the Leopards were able to scratch out their only run on a hit, a walk and error, giving them a 1-0 lead after one complete inning.

In the top of the 2nd inning Moncus led off with a single, followed by two quick outs. Bennett then singled putting two runners in scoring position on the throw from the outfield. Banks followed with a two out, two RBI single to put the Indians in front for good with a 2-1 score. Spivey struck out the side in the bottom half to leave the score at 2-1 after two complete.

In the top of the 3rd inning the Indians plated seven runs with hits from Whited, Moncus, Bennett and Banks, two errors, a walk and a hit batter. After getting the Leopards out 1,2,3 in the bottom half the Indians were up 9-1.

In the 4th inning the Indians plated two more runs on doubles by Moncus and Walden and a single by Spivey. In the top of the 5th inning the Indians scored the final two runs of the night on a leadoff homerun by Davis a double by Graham, walk to Moncus and single by Coleman. With Morley and Walden shutting down the Leopards in the 4th and 5th innings, the Indians secured the second 5 inning run rule win 13-1.

Cason Banks gets a two-RBI single to put VHS in the lead in the second game of the series with Banks County.Photo by Carroll Williams

Caden Spivey was on the mound for VHS in Game 2 against Banks County.Photo by Carroll Williams

Ty Dalley puts the bat on the ball as the Indians pull away in the second round of the State Playoffs.Photo by Carroll Williams