
Baseball Hits Road
The Golden Knights baseball team took to the road for a pair of doubleheaders Thursday and Friday. First up on Thursday was a trip to Wadley, AL and a date with perennial championship contenders Southern Union. After a 2-0 loss in Game 1, the Golden Knights rebounded with a 3-1 victory in Game 2.
These two games followed a familiar early season pattern for WGTC - strong pitching and offense at a premium. In Game 1, the brother duo of Avery Smith and Austin Smith limited the Bisons to just 2 runs and 4 hits. Avery got the start, allowing just 3 hits and 2 runs over 5 innings. However, the Knights simply could not get anything going offensively, with sophomore Justin Jackson (Conyers-Heritage) getting the lone hit.
In Game 2, WGTC turned the tables on the home team. Sophomore left-hander Payton Anderson (Watkinsville-Oconee Co.) limited the Bison to 1 hit over 6 innings, striking out 6 and giving up an unearned run. This time, the Knights got enough offense, getting a run in the 1st and 2 more in the 4th. Carson Fowler (Fr., Canton-Cherokee) entered in the 7th and slammed the door to earn the save.
With rain threatening, Saturday's doubleheader was moved up to Friday and WGTC returned to Alabama - this time to Marion Military. The Knights faced Wallace Community College-Selma in Game 1, then in Game 2 played host Marion Military.
In Game 1, WGTC got off to a quick start. Sophomore Danny Vargas (Long Island, NY-Dutchtown) doubled in Tony Matos (Winder-Winder-Barrow) who had singled. Jacob Earley (Douglasville-Alexander) singled, advancing Matos to 3rd. Matos then scored on a sacrifice fly by Brody Chester (Dawsonville-Dawson Co.) to give the Knights an early 2-0 in the 1st. WGTC took a 3-0 lead in the 4th when Cory York (Cumming-North Forsyth) singled in Chester, who had singled earlier in the inning. The Knights added another run in the 5th. After 2 outs, Matos drew a walk. Vargas then singled advancing Matos to 3rd. Earley was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Chester singled in Matos giving the Knights a 4-0 lead. As it would turn out, they needed all three of those runs. Wallace scored 2 in the bottom of the 5th and then loaded the bases with no outs in the 7th. WGTC escaped that jam, giving up a run to hold on for the 4-3 win.
Caleb Dixon (Cumming-North Forsyth) provided a strong start. The freshman right-hander pitched 6 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits while striking out 5. Another freshman, Jalan Daniels (Stone Mountain-Redan) held on to the save.
Playing its 6th game in 4 days, the Knights then squared off with Marion Military. The home team scored 5 in the 2nd inning and built a 7-0 lead after 4. The Knights added a run in the 5th, but could not get anything going offensively and lost 7-1.
Now 5-5 on the season, WGTC will stay on the road next week with a doubleheader at Chattanooga State on Tuesday followed by a single game at Chattahoochee Valley Thursday. The Knights return home next Saturday when Chattanooga State visits Carrollton for a 1 pm doubleheader.
For game updates, follow @WGTCAthletics on Twitter.