VHS Tops Toombs In Elite 8
The Vidalia High School Indians and the Toombs County High School Bulldogs baseball teams met last week in the GHSA State Elite 8. This was a high stakes rivalry series with a trip to the Final 4 on the line. The best-of-three series was held at TCHS, but the Indians were the ones that came out on top as they swept Toombs.
The Indians traveled to Chickamauga on Tuesday of this week after presstime to play Gordon Lee for a shot to play for the State Championship.
Game 1
Game 1 was a pitchers' duel as Jackson Berry took the mound for Vidalia. Toombs County was able to strike first in the bottom of the second inning after a walk and three singles. The first run came in on an RBI single by Tyson Brantley. Toombs added one more to take a 2-0 lead to the third inning.
The Indians answered in the top of the third inning. Ian Moye doubled, then Eion Ryals walked. A ground out from Cayden Nance moved both runners into scoring position and Veer Patel hit a line drive to left field to score Moye and Ryals. That tied the game at 2-2.
VHS then took the lead in the top of the fourth after Berry reached on an error and was moved into scoring position by Ryan Brantley. Henry Adams followed with a clutch single to give the Indians a 3-2 lead.
Berry allowed only three more run- continued from page
ners for the Bulldogs after that, and the Indians closed out Game 1 with a 3-2 win.
Game 2
Game 2 also proved to be a low scoring affair. The Indians took the lead in the bottom of the first after Ryals led off with a single, and Berry drove him home to give the Indians a 1-0 lead.
Toombs came back in the top of the second to tie the game off an RBI single by Riley Kersey. That tied the game at 1-1 The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth, when Adams once again gave the Indians the lead. After Clay Mimbs reached on an error, Berry singled, and Ryan Brantley hit a sack fly to put them in scoring position. Adams came through with a single to left field to bring home Berry and gave the Indians a 2-1 lead.
Veer Patel struck out four batters in the last two innings to seal the series sweep with a 2-1 win. The win also sent the Indians to the Final 4.
The Bulldogs finish their season with a record of 21-13, and they were the Region 3A Champions. The Indians are currently 20-14 on the year.
The first part of the best-of-three series for Vidalia in the Final 4, was on Tuesday of this week with a double header after presstime. If necessary, they will play a deciding third game on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. If VHS comes through the Final 4 with a victory, they will play for the State Championship against the winner of the Pepperell vs. Jeff Davis series.
Kipp Mosley slides in safely for the Bulldogs during Elite 8 action against rival Vidalia.Photo by TCHS
