Toombs Takes 2 of 3 From Vidalia
It was rivalry week in Toombs County as the Toombs County High School Bulldogs and the Vidalia High School Indians baseball teams met up last week for a three-game Region series. The Bulldogs got the best of Vidalia in the series as they won the first two games, before dropping the final game.
That moves TCHS into second place in Region 3AA behind Appling County. Toombs is now 12-11 on the season and 6-3 in Region play. The Indians are 12-11-1 overall and are now 6-5 in the Region.
Game 1
The Toombs County Bulldogs took game one of the three game region series from the Vidalia Indians by a 5-4 score on Tuesday night in Lyons. The Bulldogs trailed 4-3 going to the bottom of the 7th inning but got a walk off single for the win. The loss leaves the Indians at 11-10-1 on the season and 5-4 in region play. The two teams will complete their critical series with a double header in Vidalia on Wednesday afternoon starting at 4:00.
Walker Moncus started on the mound going 6 and 1/3 innings and taking the loss. He allowed five runs on 6 hits, two walks and one hit batter. Tucker McDonald came on in relief, pitching to the last batter. The Indians out hit the Bulldogs 8-6 but again had trouble getting the key hits for a big inning. Carson Ricks was the only Indian batter to get more than one hit as he picked up two singles.
The Indians broke out on top with two runs in the top of the 3rd inning. Cason Banks drew a one out walk but was thrown out trying to steal. Moncus followed with a two out walk and was driven home as Lawson Lowe tripled over the right fielder's head. Veer Patel then reached on an error by the shortstop allowing Lowe to score giving the Indians a 2-0 lead. However, in the bottom half the Bulldogs answered with two runs of their own. They used a couple of singles and a double to even the score at 2-2 after three com- continued from page
plete. In the top of the 4th inning Kaleb Bennett tripled into the right field corner and scored on a single by Banks to put the Indians back on top. The Bulldogs failed to score leaving the Indians up 3-2 after four complete.
In the top of the 5th inning the Indians tacked on another run. Patel led off the inning with a single and moved to second as the right fielder misplayed the ball. Ricks followed with a single and moved to second on an error putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Morgan Moye got a sacrifice fly to drive in Patel but that was all the Indians could get putting them up 4-2 going to the bottom half. The Bulldogs went 1-2-3 in the bottom half leaving the score at 4-2 Indians after five complete.
The Indians went 1-2-3 in the top of the 6th inning but the Bulldogs were able to take advantage of two errors and score a run without a hit closing the gap to 4-3 after six complete.
Again the Indians went 1-2-3 in the top of the 7th inning. In the bottom half the Bulldogs lead off batter flew out to left field but the tying and winning runs were put on base as one was hit by a pitch and the other walked. The next batter hit a double down the left field line to tie the game at 4-4 and put the winning run at 3rd base. The Indians changed pitchers and the next batter got behind 0-2 but then delivered a walk off single to right for a 5-4 win.
Game 2
The Toombs County Bulldogs and the Vidalia Indians met Wednesday afternoon for a double header at Greg James Field. This completed their three-game series after the Bulldogs had taken game one on Tuesday. The two rivals split the games with the Bulldogs winning the first game 5-4 in eight innings and the Indians winning the night cap by an 11-2 score.
The first game was an old fashioned barn burner and pitchers duel. The Bulldogs dominated through the first six innings as the Indians could get base runners but no key hits to plate any runs. The Bulldogs picked up a run on three hits in the top of the 2nd inning. They picked up another run in the top of the 5th inning on a solo home run to push out to a 2-0 lead. In the top of the 6th inning the Bulldogs drew five straight walks after two outs to add two insurance runs making it a 4-0 score after six complete innings.
The Indians came to bat in the bottom of the 7th inning trailing 4-0 and after the lead off batter popped to third it looked to be over. However, Tucker McDonald got a single back through themiddle. Cason Banks followed with a double and Walker Moncus walked to load the bases. Kaleb Bennett got a two run single putting runners on the corners. Lawson Lowe hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring Moncus and making it a 4-3 game with Bennett on first but two outs. Veer Patel stroked a double into the left field corner scoring Bennett to tie the game. With a fly out the game would go into extra innings tied at 4-4.
The Bulldogs got a bad hop single to lead off the top of the 8th inning and that runner was sacrificed to second. He came around to score on a single to right giving the Bulldogs a 5-4 lead to carry into the bottom half. The Indians made two quick outs to start the inning. McDonald would then get an infield single off the pitchers glove giving the Indians some hope. Banks followed with a double off the left center fence but two perfect relay throws cut McDonald down at the plate to end the game with the Bulldogs taking the 5-4 win.
Dawson Stewart started on the mound for the Indians going 5 and 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs on five hits, three walks and hitting two batters while striking out four. Cason Banks came on in relief but got no outs. Tucker McDonald came on in relief of Banks pitching the final 2 and 1/3 innings and taking the loss. The offense was led by Banks, Patel and McDonald with two hits each.
Game 3
The second game of the double header was all Indians as they got the offense going pounding out twelve hits in taking the 11-2 win. Veer Patel got the complete game win. He allowed only two runs while walking two, scattering six hits and striking out seven batters.
The offense was led by Walker Moncus with two three run bombs, Cason Banks scoring three runs and Tucker McDonald getting two hits and scoring twice.
The Bulldogs again drew first blood in the top of the 2nd inning as they got a lead off double and the runner moved to third on a wild pitch then scoring on a ground out. The Indians could not answer as the Bulldogs led 1-0 after two complete.
In the bottom of the 3rd inning Conner Whited led off with a single to right but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. McDonald followed with a single and Banks was hit by a pitch. Moncus followed with a three run bomb to left to give the Indians a 3-1 lead after three complete.
The Indians would strike again in the bottom of the 5th inning. After one out Banks drew a walk and Moncus was hit by a pitch. Banks and Moncus moved up on a wild pitch and Banks scored with Moncus moving to third as the catcher threw the ball into left field. Bennett followed with a single to plate Moncus. Lowe, Patel and Ricks followed with singles driving in two more runs and giving the Indians an 8-1 lead after five complete.
The Bulldogs would get one more run in the top of the 6th inning to make it an 8-2 game. In the bottom half McDonald got a lead off single and Banks followed with a single as well. Moncus would hit another three run bomb to center field giving the Indians their 11-2 win to salvage the split.
This week the Indians will play a nonregion game against Dodge County on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. in Eastman. The Bulldogs will match up with Brantley County this week for a threegame Region series. The first two games were on Tuesday after presstime. They will play next on Thursday in Nahunta at 6:00 p.m.
Walker Moncus throws a runner out at first base during the second game against rival Toombs County last week.Photo by Pop-Pop’s Photos
Tucker Braddy was on the mound for the Bulldogs in the second game of the series.Photo by TCHS
