Indians Fall To Gordon Lee

The Vidalia High School Indians baseball team faced off with the Trojans of Gordon Lee last Tuesday and Wednesday in the GHSA State Final 4. The best-of-three series had rain delays, and some controversy as the Indians fell to Gordon Lee in three games.

Game 1

In the first game of the series, VHS pitcher Jackson Berry threw a gem as he struck out 12 Trojans and didn't allow any runs as the Indians took the win in the first game of the series.

VHS wasted no time taking the lead as they came through with a run in the top of the first inning. Veer Patel ripped an RBI double, scoring Eion Ryals, to give the Indians a 1-0 lead, which they never relinquished.

Neither team scored any runs over the next four innings, but in the top of the sixth, VHS added a run on an error by Gordon Lee with Patel crossing the plate to make the score 2-0.

Patel came in to pitch in relief in the seventh inning and kept the Trojans off the board to secure the win, 2-0, for the Indians.

Game 2 With rain and lightning in the area the second game was delayed throughout, with the teams finally finishing it close to midnight. It was a game that probably should have been played the next day, but was pushed to be completed on Tuesday.

This game was all Gordon Lee as they pounded out 12 hits on the way to a run rule victory. In the top of the first inning, the Trojans plated five runs to jump into the lead. They added five more in the second inning, and three in the fifth as they built up continued from page

a 13-0 lead over the Indians.

VHS scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning on a sacrifice by Ian Moye that brought in Ryan Brantley. That was all VHS could get, though, as they lost the second game, 13-1.

That forced a third game to be played on Wednesday.

Game 3

In the rubber match, the Indians played well, but some controversy in the final inning may have cost them a shot at the State Championship.

The first run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth inning by the Trojans. They had loaded up the bases, and a walk brought in a run to give Gordon Lee a 1-0 lead.

VHS answered in the top of the fifth inning as Jake McCaw came through with an RBI single down the right field line to tie the game at 1-1. Brantley came in to score on the play for VHS.

But Gordon Lee came back in the bottom of the frame with two more runs as they took a 3-1 lead over the Indians.

VHS had a chance to tie or take the lead in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, and runners on first and second, Cayden Nance hit a swinging bunt down the first base line, and as he was running out the play he was headed right down the first base line. The catcher scooped up the ball and threw toward first, with the ball hitting Nance in the shoulder. If the play stood, two runs would have scored for VHS to tie the game at 3-3, but the home plate umpire called interference on the play for the ball hitting Nance and called him out.

The rule states that for the last 45 feet of the line to first base that a runner has to run in the runner's box, which is the foul line to a line three feet into foul territory. Interference comes when a runner is running inside (to the left of ) the foul line in fair territory and the ball then hits them on a throw to first. It appeared that Nance may have had a couple of steps that did cross over the line just by an inch or two, but it was a very close call and at that point in the game it was a big call to make. But it was not to be, instead the runners were sent back to second and third, and the second out of the inning was called.

The Indians were not able to recover from the call, and Gordon Lee got the third out, and took the win, 3-1.

VHS had a great season in which they got on track at the right time of the year, and made a solid playoff run, all the way to the Final 4. The Indians finished the season with a record of 22-16. VHS will be losing just three seniors off of this team, Ian Moye, Jackson Berry, and Dawson Stewart.

CONTINUING AS A MAT GIRL – Montgomery County High School Senior Paris Ann Thornton signed her letter of intent to continue her education at Brewton-Parker College, where she will serve the college’s wrestling team as a manager, better known as a “mat girl.” Thornton has been the Montgomery County Middle/High School Wrestling Team manager for 6 years. Front Row, L to R: Quentin Thornton, Paris Ann Thornton, Brewton-Parker College Wrestling Coach Joshua Sturgill. Back Row, L to R: Ashley Thornton, Italy Thornton, Sicily Thornton.hoto by Makaylee Randolph