Bulldogs Into Playoffs
The Toombs County High School Bulldogs baseball team ended their regular season on a six game winning streak. Those wins secured them the #4 spot in Region 2AA and earned them a spot into the State Playoffs. The final Region series was against the Tigers of Swainsboro last week.
Game 1
Toombs had to win two of the three games against Swainsboro to get into the playoffs and they started out the week with a close win at home on Tuesday. The Tigers got things started in the top of the first inning. They got one run across as they took the early lead. In the bottom of the first inning Tray Harris reached base, and then Brantley Upshaw hit a double to the fence to put runners in scoring position. That was followed by a chopper by Wil Watts that scored Harris to tie the game at 1-1. Jason Dukes drove in Upshaw for a 2-1 lead. Swainsboro tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the third inning. In the bottom of the fifth the Bulldogs went back on top as they plated two runs. Dawson Brantley came through with a double to get it started. Harris then walked as did Watts to load the bases. Dukes followed that with a two-RBI single to put TCHS up 4-2.
Swainsboro managed to score one run in the top of the seventh inning, but Toombs held on to get the 4-3 win. Logan Knight got the win on the mound, and Lucas O'Conner picked up the save.
Game 2
On Thursday in Swainsboro the Bulldogs secured their spot in the playoffs with a run rule win. Toombs scored a run in the top of the first inning. They added four more in the third to push their lead to 5-0. Swainsboro got on the board with a run in the bottom of the third, but Toombs answered with a run in the top of the fourth. Another run for the Tigers in the fourth closed the lead to 6-2, but the Bulldogs plated four more in the fifth to make the score 10-2. Toombs closed out the game with four more runs in the sixth inning, as they won the game 14-2.
Upshaw had a big day at the plate with three hits and five RBI's. Harris added three RBI's and Knight had two. Upshaw also got the win on the mound.
Game 3
Toombs rolled to a win in the final game of the series. The Tigers took the early lead with a run in the top of the first inning, but Toombs answered with four in the bottom of the frame. With Brantley and Harris on base, Upshaw drove in a run, Watts followed with an RBI, and then Dukes put TCHS up 3-1. Kodie Cortez added an RBI double as Toombs held a 4-1 lead going to the second. Toombs blew the game open in the bottom of the third inning as they scored 10 runs. Toombs added two more in the fourth to take the win by the run rule, 16-1. Toombs finished the regular season with an overall record of 12-14-1, and they were 7-8 in Region play. This week the Bulldogs will be at Oglethorpe County for the first round of the GHSA State AA Playoffs. They will play a double header beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. If necessary, they will play a game 3 on Friday at 4:00 p.m.
