The diamond Red Raiders finished the regular season Saturday with a win over Prince Avenue.
Madison County’s 7-1 win improved the team to 15-8 overall. The boys are third in the sub-region at 6-4 and 9-6 in region play. The third seed in the sub-region means that for the first round of the region tournament, played Wednesday, the Red Raiders crossed over to take on the number two seed Heritage.
On the north side of the region, Winder-Barrow took the top seed with Flowery Branch and Madison County following. Across the region, Loganville took the south sub-region number one seed, followed by Heritage and Rockdale.
Winder and Loganville duke it out for first and second seeding into the playoffs. Flowery Branch takes on Rockdale and Madison County takes on Heritage with the winners heading into the state playoffs.
Results from Wednesday’s doubleheader were unavailable at press time, but if a third game was needed, the game is set for this afternoon, Thursday, at Madison County at 5:55 p.m.
The regular season closer against Prince Avenue Saturday followed last week’s 17-3 win over Clarke Central April 18, and the 3-2 win over Flowery Branch last Wednesday.
Ending games
In the five inning, 17-3 win over Clarke Central, Madison County totaled 14 hits.
Haden Martin, Dylan Chandler, J. Ben Hardman, Jarrett Seawright, Daniel Townsend and Jordan Thomas each tallied two hits each.
Alex Jordan earned the win on the mound, improving to 2-0 after four innings of work, striking out eight batters, and allowing three runs on five hits. Lance Chandler came in to close, pitching the fifth inning and striking out all to shut the door.
CC 1 2 0 0 0 3
MC 3 9 1 4 x W 17
In the Flowery Branch game, Madison County earned the win in eight innings, 3-2 and was credited by coaches with being possibly the best played game of the year.
“It was a great win for our team, as they responded to each challenge and executed well under pressure,” said assistant coach Ken Morgan about the Flowery Branch game.
The Falcons jumped out early with a two run lead in the first before Madison County settled down and shut down Flowery Branch across the next seven innings.
Matt Savage pitched through the fifth inning, only allowing three hits and striking out seven, and took a no decision as the red Raiders tied the game in the fourth. L. Chandler came in and pitched the sixth and seventh innings, earning the win as he pitched out with runners on second and third in both innings. D. Chandler closed in the eighth inning, recording the save with two strikeouts and a fly ball.
Steven Tiller deleivered the game winner go ahead on a far right single that brought in Townsend, on base after a walk and advanced on sac bunt from Seawright.
FB 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
MC 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 W 3
Over Prince Avenue in the regular season closer, the Red Raiders handily took the 7-1 win.
“This make up game helped in many ways by keeping us from going a week without playing and allowing our pitching staff to get the work in,” said Morgan.
Coming on for two innings each. L. Chandler, Savage and Jordan were followed by D. Chandler pitching the seventh inning. Combined the Red Raider pitchers held Prince Avenue to one run on three hits, 11 strikeouts and four walks.
Madison County totaled 10 hits with J. Ben Hardman and Bo Hardman both going 2-for-3 with a single, a double and two RBIs. Tiller went 2-for-4.
