Redan’s Luis De La Cruz strokes a run-scoring double during Redan’s state playoff quarterfinal 7-0 victory. De La Cruz went 3-3 with two doubles and three RBI in the game and then pitched two perfect innings of relief in the game 2 loss. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Appling County rebounded from a 7-0 shutout loss to the Redan Raiders in Game 1 of the Class 2A baseball state playoffs quarterfinals with a come from behind 5-2 win in Game 2 at Gresham Park’s Hank Aaron Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Raiders (21-11) got a three-hit, shutout pitching performance from Yannick Butler in the opening game 7-0 win to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
Redan then got out to a 2-0 lead in game 2 with an RBI single from Bernard Moon and a sacrifice fly by Jamie Howze in the top of the third inning.
Daelyn House cruised through three innings on the mound setting down nine consecutive batters getting four groundball outs, three via the fly ball and two strikeouts.
Things got tough in the fourth inning as the first batter, Collin Ewaldsen, reached on a bouncer up the middle that was fielded by second baseman Derek Peoples Jr. but he was running away from first and could not make the throw in time.
A sacrifice bunt moved pinch runner Levi Reynolds to second. House got a bouncer back to the mound for what looked to be the second out of the inning only to have the umpire call catcher’s interference to put two runners on with one out.
Dawson Griffis loaded the bases with a single to shallow left field to bring Patrick Crosby to the plate. Crosby hit a bounced on the artificial turf that bounced over a leaping Tyrell Wyatt and third and into shallow left to plate two runs to knot the game at 2-2.
House got a strikeout before walking the bases loaded. Two errors followed to allow three runs to come home giving the Pirates (22-11) a 5-2 lead.
Redan would hit into two double plays over the next two innings to end threats before coming to bat in the top of the seventh needing three runs. In the meantime, Luis De La Cruz replaced House and shut down the Pirates for two innings to keep the deficit at three runs.
Crosby entered the game in relief of Appling starter Collin Ewaldsen and struck out the side in the seventh to end the game.
All three of Appling’s hits and all six baserunners came in the five-run fourth inning as the Pirates went down in order in five of their six at bats. Ewaldsen picked up the win going six innings allowing two runs and five hits.
Redan’s De La Cruz pitched three innings and struck out three while not allowing a base runner. House was the tough luck loser allowing just one earned run and three hits in four innings including three perfect innings to start the game. Bernard Moon lead the Raiders at the plate going 3-3 with an RBI and run scored.
The two teams meet on Monday (May 8) at Gresham Park’s Hank Aaron Field in the third and deciding game of the series with first pitch set for 4:00 pm.
Redan’s Yannick Butler pitched a three-hitter in the Raider’s 7-0 game 1 win against Appling County. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Game 1
Redan 7, Appling Co. 0
Luis De La Cruz was 3-3 with two doubles and three RBI and pitcher Yannick Butler pitched a three-hit shutout as the Raiders opened the series with a 7-0 win at Hank Aaron Field.
De La Cruz to Redan on the scoreboard with all the runs Butler would need as he looped a singles over the Appling shortstop to score Bernard Moon and Tyrell Wyatt. Adriel Martinez followed with another looper into left field to plate Jamie Howze as the Raiders headed to the second inning up 3-0.
De La Cruz double to score Derek Peoples Jr. in the third inning to make it 4-0. The score went to 5-0 in the fourth as Moon hit a sac fly to right field to plate Collin Brightwell.
Single runs came in the fifth and sixth innings on another double by De La Cruz in the fifth and a RBI single by Howze in the sixth to make it 7-0.
Butler meanwhile worked out of jams in the fourth fifth and sixth innings via strikeout for the third out in each inning to keep the shutout going.
The Redan pitcher came out in the seventh inning to get the first two outs via the ground ball before taking a shot off the bat of Greyson Hall to allow a base runner. He shook it off and coaxed Daylon Griffis into an easy fly ball for the final out.
Butler finished the game allowing no runs, striking out 5 and allowing just three hits and three walks over the seven innings of work on the mound. Moon joined De La Cruz with multiple hits going 2-3 with a run scored, a RBI on a sacrifice fly and a stolen base.
Appling County starter Mason Williamson went just three innings and allowed four runs to take the loss. Grayson Hall was 2-3 to lead the Pirates at the plate.
DCSD BASEBALL STATE PLAYOFFS RESULTS
Saturday, May 6
Class 2A Quarterfinals
Game 1
Redan 7, Appling Co. 0
Game 2
Appling Co. (23-10) 5, Redan (21-11) 2
Series tied 1-1
DCSD BASEBALL STATE PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
Monday, May 8
Class 2A Quarterfinals
Gresham Park – Hank Aaron Field
Appling Co. (23-10) vs. Redan (21-11), 4:00 pm