Heritage Takes Region Series From RTCA
The regular season wrapped up last week with significant region implications on the line as the Robert Toombs Christian Academy Crusaders and the Vidalia Heritage Academy Eagles baseball teams squared off in a three-game series. After splitting a Monday doubleheader at RTCA, the Eagles defended their home turf on Thursday to clinch the series and secure second place in the Region, leaving the Crusaders to finish in third.
Game 1
The series opened Monday afternoon with RTCA drawing first blood. Brittan Tabor was the story for the Crusaders, delivering a dominant performance on the mound with 12 strikeouts. He also helped his own cause at the plate in the bottom of the third inning, breaking a scoreless tie with a decisive three-run homer.
Heritage managed to scrape across a single run in the top of the fourth, but RTCA answered with two more in the bottom half of the frame. The Crusaders' pitching held firm the rest of the way, locking down a 5-1 victory.
Game 2
Heritage quickly found its footing in the second game of the doubleheader, leaning on twoway standout Trevor White to even the series. White set the tone early with a solo home run in the top of the first inning and was equally impressive on the hill, racking up nine strikeouts over four innings of work.
The game remained a tight 1-0 contest until the top of the fifth, when the Eagles' lineup broke through. Gray McNeal drove in a pair of runs and Jake Adams added an RBI to stretch the lead to 4-0. The Heritage defense maintained the shutout to close out the win and set up an important game 3 of the series.
Game 3
With the series on the line Thursday at Heritage, the Eagles wasted no time putting things out of reach. VHA erupted for five runs in the bottom of the first inning, fueled by RBI singles from Jake Adams and Bragg Alford, a two-run drive from Peyton McLain, and another RBI off the bat of Rocco Braddy.
That early cushion was more than enough for the Heritage pitching staff. Adams started things off, striking out three and allowing just one hit in his lone inning of work. McLain then took over in relief and was untouchable, holding the Crusaders hitless for the remainder of the contest. Heritage tacked on two final insurance runs in the sixth to cruise to a 7-0 shutout and claim the series.
The series victory pushes Vidalia Heritage Academy to a 12-10 regular- season record and the No. 3 ranking heading into the playoffs. RTCA closes out their regular-season campaign at 6-14 and sits at No. 5. Both programs will open postseason play this Friday, with opponents and first-pitch times yet to be announced.
