Three-Peat For Heritage

It is a Three-Peat for the Vidalia Heritage Academy Eagles baseball team as they claimed the GAPPS State A Baseball Championship on Saturday of last week. After the storm rolled through Vidalia on Thursday with a confirmed tornado in the area, damage was done to the fence at the VHA baseball field. The VHA staff along with GAPPS and their opponent, Victory Baptist, found a place to play the Championship, and the games were moved to the Southern Pines Recreation Department in Dublin. The bestof- three series kicked off at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, and it was all Heritage as they rolled to a sweep and a third State Championship in a row.

Game 1

In the first game, the Eagles got off to a good start as they scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. They scored those one three hits and a walk. In the second inning, the Eagles added to their lead as Ledger Curl reached base and then was driven in by a hit by JT Cofield to put VHA on top 4-0.

Greer Posey was on the mound for the Eagles, and he pitched a solid game, allowing just one hit over seven innings. The VHA defense also played well as they gave up just one error on the day.

Heritage put a few runners on base over the next three innings, including a double down the left field line by Poset, but could not drive any runs in.

In the top of the sixth inning, Dalton Price came in to close the game out for the Eagles on the mound. Victory did put a couple of runners on base but got out of the jam and sent the game to the bottom of the sixth inning with VHA still up 4-0. But in the bottom of the sixth inning, Heritage put runners at the corners, and a run came in to score on a wild pitch. That made the score 5-0 with the Eagles out in front. continued from page

Heritage held the Warriors of Victory scoreless in the top of the seventh to take the win, 5-0. Posey and Price combined to strike out eight batters in the game.

Game 2

Heritage were the visitors in Game 2 of the series. Curl was hit by a pitch and then moved to second on a fielder’s choice by Cofield. Curl came in to score on a wild pitch to put VHA on top 1-0.

In the bottom of the first inning, Cofield was on the mound, and took a line drive off the back of his right tricep but was able to continue and threw another great game for the Eagles. He recovered quickly and sent the game to the second inning with VHA still up 1-0.

In the top of the second inning with runners at the corners, Price stole second, and when he did a run, came in to score for a 2-0 lead. Posey then drove in a run for a 3-0 lead, and then a rip by Curl to the fence in left field made it 4-0. And that was the score heading to the third inning.

In the top of the third inning, the Eagles loaded the bases with just one out. An error on a hard-hit ball by RJ Wells pushed the lead to 5-0, and then a walk to Hardy Franklin put VHA up 6-0, with Trevor White scoring. Jake Adams followed that with a drive to the left side that scored another run to make it 7-0, with Price scoring. Curl hit a three-run double into the gap for a 10-0 lead for the Eagles. After another VHA hit, Maddyx Herrin followed that with a two-run double as the Eagles went on top 12-0.

VHA held in the bottom of the third inning, but in the top of the fourth, they were not able to add any runs. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Warriors finally got on the board as they picked up one run after a walk, a fielder’s choice, and a single made the score 12-1. That was the Warriors’ first hit of the game.

Heritage did not score in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs, the Warriors hit a ball hard to Judd Wilkes at second base, but he came up with the play for the final out of the game as the Eagles won 12-0 to second their third State Championship in a row.

VHA Head Coach Seth Sitzman said, “Oh man, we were confident coming into the series, but we knew that had two good pitchers, but we jumped on them early. We hadn’t really done that all season, but today it was impressive to see it. We have always played Game 2 well and that showed again today. I’m so proud of our seniors and what they have done for us over the past several years. Three in a row is something special, and not a lot of players or coaches ever get to say they got to experience that. I love every one of them, but I have to say it is a heck of a way to go out.”

This is the last season that Sitzman will be part of the Eagles’ programs as he is moving on to get his master’s degree from Georgia College and State University. He has helped lead the baseball team to four Region Championships, three State Championships, and a State Runnerup. He has also helped take the football program from an 0-10 first season to two State Championships. He helped build the programs and the facilities from the ground up and will be missed at Vidalia Heritage Academy.

Sitzman added, “During my time at Heritage, it was amazing to add Varsity Football, Varsity Baseball, Band, Softball Programs, Wrestling, and Bass Fishing. On top of all that, restoring a football stadium, adding a brand-new baseball field, and hitting facility with a weight room. My Vision never stopped growing for this school and that was my goal, to build a legacy that these young athletes could look back on and be proud to call themselves a VHA Eagle.”

More photes page 12B VHA

Greer Posey fires over to first base for an out during Game 2 of the State Championship against Victory Baptist.Photo by Mike Branch

Ledger Curl slides in safely for the Eagles’ first run of Game 2 of the State Title Game.Photo by Mike Branch

Dalton Price throws out a runner at first base as the Heritage Eagles pull away in the second game of the State Championship.Photo by Mike Branch

The Heritage Eagles pile on after securing the final out of the State Championship.Photo by Mike Branch