Like a quality boxer, the Winder-Barrow High School baseball team withstood an early punch to the gut Monday and when all was said and done, the Bulldoggs had continued what it has been doing since region and subregion play began — they emerged with their hands raised victorious.
WBHS defeated Apalachee High School 13-3 Monday afternoon in five innings, just hours before major storms rolled into the area. The win improved the Bulldoggs to 14-0 and 5-0 in Region 8-AAAA North. WBHS is also undefeated against all region foes at 8-0.
Travis Demeritte continued his stellar season earning the win striking out six while scattering six hits and walking two. The sophomore, who was recently the Northeast Georgia Athlete of the Week, was also one of the offensive leaders Monday with a home run.
“Travis did exactly what we needed him to do,” Bulldogg coach Brian Smith said.
It was visiting Apalachee which took a quick lead on a leadoff homer by Clint Ashe. While the early advantage for the Wildcats may have briefly given cause for optimism for another upset similar to the first meeting between the teams in 2010, WBHS would answer with three runs in the first, four in the second and three more in the third.
“It’s a rivalry game so when you get down you feel it a little,” Smith said. “I’m glad we were able to answer right back. It seems anytime this season someone gets a lead, we have been able to answer immediately. That’s always a key to being able to win.”
Taylor Keinat and Ryan Brown also had homers for the Diamond Doggs. Grayson Ivey and Austin Meyer both drove in three runs. Meyer put an early finish to the game in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run single.
For AHS, Mason Webb earned his first start of the season as the Diamond Cats were looking to set up their pitching rotation for some upcoming games the coaches believe will be important for postseason chances.
“The big picture for us is we have to beat Madison County, Habersham Central and Clarke Central,” said acting head coach Jeff Maddox, who filled in during Mike Cavey’s two-game suspension after being ejected last Thursday. “If we don’t do that, then we don’t have a chance to finish in the top three on our side.”
Maddox praised the effort Webb gave Monday afternoon.
“Winder-Barrow is a very good team,” the AHS coach said. “They can really hit. Our kids kept competing. We had talked to them all weekend about continuing to battle. When you get down in a game, you have to keep competing.”
Ashe finished 2-for-2 for AHS including a homer and a double. Tony Salvaggio had a single and drove in a run.
“Clint had a good night,” Maddox said. “He’s been coming around lately. Tony also did well as did Chris Guthrie. We weren’t overpowered, but we are young and still trying to improve. Demeritte kept us off balance and threw a good game. We battled the best we could.”
For the Bulldoggs, it was another win on the path to what they hope may be a region title.
“It was a good way to close out the first half of the subregion schedule,” Smith said. “With the win blowing the way it was, no lead was really safe. Even if you are up seven or eight runs, you can’t relax. Crazy things do happen.”
Winning eight games in a row is something Smith traces back to a tough schedule early in 2011.
“We were humbled early at times, but I believe that competition is paying off for us now,” the WBHS coach said.
