Streaking Generals roll past Gilmer
The Heritage Generals are the midst of their longest winning streak of the season and it could not have come at a better time.
The Navy-and-Red began the week with season-high six consecutive victories after crushing the Gilmer Bobcats in a three-game set last week.
Heritage (21-6 overall) went into the week in second place in the Region 6-AAAA standings at 12-3, one win behind Northwest Whitfield, who beat the Generals in two of three contests this season.
The Generals will close out the regular season with a series against LaFayette, while the Bruins will end the region slate with three against Ridgeland.
Heritage 7, Gilmer 1
The first five innings on Tuesday were a pitchers’ duel as Generals starter Alex Barbee gave up just one run through five innings, while Bobcat pitcher Will Barnes pitched a shutout through the first 12 outs.
Joseph Hill would tie things up for Heritage with a sacrifice fly, but the Generals would open up the game late. Singles by Brody Campbell, Luke Grant and Blake Bryan spurred the offensive eruption as Heritage scored five runs in the seventh inning.
Cole Wilcox was on fire with a 4-for-4 performance, while Campbell, Grant, Bryan and Lance Dockery each mustered up a 2-for-4, one RBI day. Overall, the Generals racked up 14 hits.
Gilmer’s lone run came off a McKinley Chadwick single in the bottom of the first.
Barbee got the win after striking out five, allowing one earned run and walking zero in 5 1/3 innings of work.
Heritage 15, Gilmer 0
Back in the friendly confines of home on Thursday, the Generals needed just two-and-a-half inning to polish off the run-rule victory.
Heritage laid the wood in the region game as the damage was done early and often.
Bryan went 2-for-2 with four RBIs. Josh Gibson went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Dockery had a hit and three RBIs, while Hill had a hit and plated a run.
Tripp Church threw a no-hitter, striking out five.
Heritage 7, Gilmer 1
Back in Ellijay on Friday, Alex Coulter staked the Generals to the early lead after stroking a single in the top of the second to bring in two runs. Johnathan Hickman tripled into the gap in the top of the sixth to score three more runs.
Dockery went 2-for-2, while Hickman was 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Coulter was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Wilcox pitched a gem with six strikeouts and no earned runs in five innings.
Heritage will play at LaFayette on Tuesday and Friday, while they will host the Ramblers on Thursday. All three games are slated for 5:30 p.m. starts.