Over the course of the 2009 season, Model has scored 151 runs, while Jefferson has scored 217, breaking down to a 6.3 run per game average for the Blue Devils, while the Dragons have a 9.4 per game average.
But the telling statistic may be the total runs allowed. While Jefferson has allowed only 61 runs to be scored against them this season, Model has allowed 118, an average of 4.9 per game.
With Jefferson having ended their last four regular season games in five innings or less, it appears the Dragons will hold an edge when play begins on Friday.
The two teams will face off in a double header on Friday, with the first game starting at 4:30 p.m. If needed, a tie-breaking game will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Banks County
The Dragons got right down to business early, as they put two runs on the board in the first inning, then added three more off of two home runs in the third.
But the Leopards still remembered the 19-0 spanking they had received from Jefferson earlier in the month, and their bats came to life in the fourth inning, as they put four runners across to move to within one run of the Dragons.
The Dragons responded by putting another run across in the fifth, then added three more in the top of the sixth to move out to a 9-4 lead.
The Leopards worked hard to mount another challenge, but it was too little, too late. Despite Banks County getting a run across, Jefferson went on to win 9-5.
Chris Swancey went the distance on the mound, striking out four and giving up seven hits in seven innings.
Chris Beck went 2-2 at the plate with two RBIs, including a home run. Lucas Redd went 3-3 at the plate with one RBI. Jason Demos went 2-4. Jamie Sexton went 1-2. Jake Fields went 1-2 with two RBIs.
Kyle Hardy went 1-3 with one RBI.
The win gave Jefferson home field advantage for this week’s opening round of state playoffs, which begin on Friday.
North Oconee
The Dragons went on that night to face North Oconee for the region title, and collected the win in style.
Chris Beck pitched a no-hitter against the Titans, while the Dragons put seven runs across in a big second inning, then two more in the third and fourth to cap off an 11-0 win in five innings to become the region champs.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald.
