Darlington completes sweep with 15-0 win
The Darlington Tigers finished off a three-game region series sweep on Friday at home with a dominant 15-0 mercyrule shortened victory in four innings over Coosa.
Darlington (16-9, 15-3 in 7-A Division I) jumped on top with four runs in the bottom of the first and then added five each in the second and third before scoring the 15th to force the mercy rule in the fourth. The Tigers’ offense finished with 15 total hits as several different players got in on the action.
Ashton Albers led the way with a 2-for-4 effort that included a home run, a double and four RBIS. Bagley Larry and Braxton Stegall each went 3-for-3 with Larry driving in three runs and Stegall driving in two. Stegall had a double among his two hits.
Thomas Hargett and Tim Smith each had added two hits apiece with Hargett contributing a double and scoring three runs and Smith scoring two. Talan Shirey added a hit and two RBIS, Trustin Mercer had a hit and an RBI and Sam Twente chipped in with a double.
On the mound, Cooper Norris got the win for Darlington after pitching all four innings and allowing no runs on one hit with seven strikeouts and four walks.
Kayne Couch had the only hit for Coosa (0-24, 0-15) while Pacey Smith, Tyler Fennell, Jaurice Warren and Jaedin Locklear all reached on walks.
Darlington completed the region portion of its schedule with the three-game sweep of the Eagles and were on the road on Monday at Mount Bethel Christian Academy for a non-region test. The Tigers will host Christian Heritage on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. for another non-region matchup.
Coosa will open a threegame region series on Tuesday at home against Chattooga at 5:30 p.m. The two teams will play again at Chattooga on Thursday and back at Coosa on Friday with both games starting at 5:30 p.m.
In other prep sports action on Friday:
BASEBALL Model splits region doubleheader
The Model Blue Devils hosted Fannin County on Friday for a doubleheader and came away with a split against the region opponent, winning Game 1, 5-2, before falling in Game 2, 8-6.
In the opener, Model (197, 13-2 in 7-AA) and Fannin County were tied 2-2 going to the bottom of the fifth before the Devils scored two runs in the inning and then added one more in the sixth to pull away for the win.
Chance Minshew had a pair of hits and two RBIS at the plate for Model while Ripken West and Reece Grodeman each contributed a hit and an RBI apiece. Cooper Dean added a triple, Jared Terhune had a hit and a run scored and Jonah Winton drew two walks and scored two runs.
Winston Cash got the win on the mound by going all seven innings for the complete game and allowing two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.
In the nightcap, Model trailed 8-2 going to the final half inning before rallying back within two with a fourrun seventh but couldn’t get any closer.
Grodeman had a pair of hits and an RBI while Winton contributed a triple and two RBIS. Hudson Latimer also had a hit and two RBIS while West had a hit, a walk and a run scored.
Model used three pitchers in the contest with Terhune going two innings and allowing one run on two hits with four strikeouts and three walks and Caden Oswalt pitching 2 2/3 innings and allowing three unearned runs on one hit with two strikeouts and three walks. Latimer took the loss after pitching 2 1/3 innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits.
Despite the loss on Friday, Model will head into the final week of the regular season with a chance to win its third straight region title. The Devils will play three against the current leader in the region standings, Rockmart, with Game 1 of the series being Tuesday at Model at 5:30 p.m. The two teams will then play a doubleheader to complete the series on Thursday at Rockmart starting at 5 p.m.
SOCCER Rome girls 7, Darlington 2
The Rome Lady Wolves finished off their season in impressive fashion on Saturday with a convincing win over non-region local rival Darlington at Barron Stadium.
Rome (5-13) was led by the duo of Sophie Clowdus and Emily Cooper who combined for five goals and five assists. Clowdus had the hat trick with three goals to go with two assists while Cooper added two goals and three assists.
Lily Strickland and Abby Levesque each added a goal apiece, and Isabella Gepfer contributed an assist. Mykeelah Dennis was Rome’s keeper in the win and did a solid job with four saves.
The Lady Wolves’ season comes to an end while Darlington (9-8) will get ready for the Class A Division I State Tournament. The Lady Tigers will visit Whitefield Academy on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the first round.