East Jackson Sweeps Putnam County
By Brandon Reed
The East Jackson Eagles hope to end their season on a high note.
Last week, they wrapped up first-round region tournament play by sweeping Putnam County in a Friday double header.
Thursday they will travel to Rabun County to close out their season with a doubleheader against the Wildcats. First pitch in game one is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Game One
Putnam County entered Friday’s match up with a 7-12-1 overall record, while East Jackson had racked up five wins in the season.
But the Eagles took the Putnam team to task, keeping their bats mostly silent, and racking up an 18-1 win in five innings.
“The north side of Region 8-AA is without a doubt, from top to bottom, the best,” said coach David Robertson “We were playing their number five seed, and the kids were very responsive to what I had to say. They know the season is coming to an end. I wish basically, we could start over. If we could do that, I think the record would be completely different. They’re playing some great baseball right now. I’m very pleased, and very, very proud of them.”
At the plate, Josh Chumley went 3-for-4 with six RBIs, including a double, and a three-run homerun. Taylor Boswell went 2-for-3, Zaine Hailey went 2-for-3 with an RBI, Ethan Allred went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, Sam Williamson went 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs, and Brandon Rucker went 2-for-4.
Sam Williamson got the win on the mound, striking out 10 batters, and walking none.
Game Two
If the Eagles had been winded in game one, they didn’t show it in game two, as East Jackson trounced Putnam County in the second game 15-5 in five innings.
At the plate, Chumley went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including a double and a homerun. Evan Williamson and Boswell went 3-for-3 with an RBI each, while Hailey had three hits and four RBIs in four at-bats. Sam Williamson had two hits, Rucker went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Hunter Beck had a hit and an RBI, and A.J. Howard had a hit.
Hailey pitched four innings, giving up four runs, three hits, and striking out seven. Allred pitched one inning, giving up one run, one hit and striking out one.
“The guys are playing very well,” Robertson said. “I’m very proud of them. They are listening, and they’re really, truly playing great baseball right now. It’s awesome to watch.”
Rabun County
On Thursday, the Eagles will travel to Rabun County to close out their season with a second-round tournament doubleheader against the Wildcats for ninth place in the region.
The Eagles have faced the Wildcats three times this season, winning the last two, but Robertson says that record doesn’t ensure success on Thursday.
“You’ve got to look at it like you’ve never seen them before,” he said. “It’s kind of a double edged sword. We know a lot about them, and we have had some success against them. Maybe they’re due. We’re going to take the same approach to them as we have in the past. Defensively, we’ve got to play strong, fundamental baseball, and make the routine plays. We’re excited.”
Robertson says his team is ready for the challenge.
“These kids are tough down here now,” he said. “They’re tough, and they’re scrappy. They like that challenge. We’ve kind of adopted the slogan ‘play like we’re behind all the time,’ because when we’re behind, we just don’t let up. That’s awesome, that’s something that you can’t really teach. That’s heart. These guys have a lot of that.”
