Madison County draws Heritage in first round
Madison County will open the Region 8-AAAA baseball tournament next week.
Raider coach Charli Griffeth said Tuesday that his third-seeded team will face Heritage in the first round of the region tournament. The first two games will be played at Heritage, with a third played in Danielsville, if necessary. Those games could take place Wednesday/Thursday or Thursday/Friday, Griffeth said.
One thing is for sure, Madison County players know two areas of needed improvement if they want to make a post-season run. The Raiders are committing far too many errors and striking out far too often at the plate, Griffeth said.
The theme was evident again Monday, as the squad was no-hit at Flowery Branch in a 1-0 loss.
“It was a continuation of striking out too much and making too many errors to win consistently,” said Griffeth.
The 8-12 Raiders squandered a stellar pitching performance Monday by Brock Turner, who hurled a two hitter.
“He’s a game under .500 and he’s got an ERA under one,” noted Griffeth of the 3-4 starter. “He’s been throwing the ball well.
The home squad Flowery Branch team scored a run in the bottom of the first inning Monday after the first batter of the game was hit by a pitch. A couple of Raiders’ fielding blunders helped that runner across the plate for the lone run of the game.
The team will then travel to Salem Friday at 5:55 p.m. and host Prince Avenue Saturday at 5 p.m. in the final regular season game.
Raiders 9 Clarke Central 5
In other recent action, Madison County split in a two-game season series with Clarke Central by bouncing the Gladiators 9-5 at Raider Field April 11. The Raiders, managing just four hits in a game one 6-1 loss to Central April 9, found their groove by pounding out 16 hits in the team’s second meeting.
On the hill Raider starter Alex Jordan kept Central from sweeping the series by pitching sven strong innings, striking out 13 of the 31 batters he faced including a string of six straight at one point of the contest.
Despite stranding nine runners on base, Madison County was able to strike early and often by posting runs in every inning but the sixth. Daniel Townsend got things started early by reaching first base after being hit by a pitch in the first inning. Daniel Brooks and Brock Turner followed with singles to load the bases with no outs. A balk call on Central’s hurler forced home Townsend for the Raiders’ first run and advanced both Brooks and Turner into scoring position. Bo Hardman then drove home Brooks giving the Raiders the early 2-0 advantage. After yielding two Gladiator runs in a 25-pitch second inning, Jordan settled down to pitch four straight scoreless innings. Clarke Central took advantage of back to back Raider errors in the seventh inning to post their final three runs breaking Jordan’s scoreless string.
The Raiders tallied a run each in the second, third, and fourth innings to push their lead to 5-2. With one out, Zeke Smallwood singled and later scored on a line drive hit to left field by Townsend for the second inning run. Wesley Johnson, who entered the game as a pinch runner for Jordan, scored the Raiders’ third inning run after stealing second base and later scoring on a two-out hit by Hayden Frey. Madison County tried to add to the lead in the same inning but ended up stranding two runners on base. Josh Dalton scored the Raiders’ fourth inning run after reaching on a leadoff double, later scoring on a single to right field by Daniel Townsend to put the Raiders on top 5-2.
Madison County sent 10 batters to the plate in the fifth inning where their four runs in the frame turned out to be the deciding margin. The Raiders got four straight singles, one each from Will McCarty, Hayden Frey, Zeke Smallwood, and Josh Dalton, with one out in the inning.
Smallwood’s hit drove home McCarty and a bases loaded walk to Daniel Brooks forced home Frey. Brock Turner reached on an infield hit driving home Smallwood and Bo Hardman picked up an RBI after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded driving home Dalton for the final Madison County run.
Jordan, who used an effective curve ball all night, received plenty of hit support from his teammates. Josh Dalton’s three-hit game led the Raiders followed by two hits each from Hayden Frey, Daniel Brooks, Brock Turner, Zeke Smallwood, and Will McCarty. Daniel Townsend and Austin Dean cleaned up with a hit each.
Loganville 7 Raiders 1
The Loganville Devils visited Danielsville Friday night sporting a 15-3 overall record that included a 10-0 region mark. By the time they left they were able to add another win to their totals after defeating the Red Raiders 7-1. Madison County managed six hits on the night but fell victim to strikeouts 11 times.
The Raiders entered the game knowing that they had their work cut out for them and for the first two innings, they did the job pretty well. Hayden Frey took the loss on the mound but had two very good first innings before running into trouble in the third. Frey sat down the first three Devils of the game and ended the second inning by striking out two straight batters stranding a runner at third. Madison County had numerous chances to put some runs on the board throughout the game. The Raiders got a leadoff double from Daniel Brooks to open the second inning, but after advancing to third he was left hanging when the inning ended. Madison County then put two more runners on base in the third inning. Will McCarty drew a one out walk and Daniel Townsend singled but neither runner was able to put spike marks on the plate after Bo Hardman went down swinging and Brock Turner flied out to left to end the threat.
Loganville broke through in a big way in the top of the third inning by using the long ball to jump out in front 3-0. Frey surrendered a leadoff double and was later touched for back-to-back home runs by Kyle Hall and Clint Frazier. The three-run third ended Frey’s night on the mound with three complete innings pitched allowing the three runs on five hits while striking out three.
Daniel Brooks opened the Raider fourth inning with his second double of the night and ended up scoring Madison County’s only run compliments of a wild pitch. Loganville was able to answer with a run in the top half of inning number five and put the finishing touches on the win with a three-run seventh inning.
The Raiders, who finished the night with six runners left on base, put together one more threat prior to Loganville’s seventh inning rally. Mixed in between three strikeouts in the inning, Will McCarty drew a walk and Zeke Smallwood lined a single to left field but a strikeout by Austin Dean ended the frame with McCarty and Smallwood stranded.
Dean pitched three innings in relief, allowing four runs on five hits while walking two and striking out one. Lee Griffeth also pitched an inning allowing only one hit and no runs. Daniel Brooks and Daniel Townsend led the Raider offense with two hits each followed by a hit from Bo Hardman and Zeke Smallwood.
One thing is for sure, Madison County players know two areas of needed improvement if they want to make a post-season run. The Raiders are committing far too many errors and striking out far too often at the plate, Griffeth said.
The theme was evident again Monday, as the squad was no-hit at Flowery Branch in a 1-0 loss.
“It was a continuation of striking out too much and making too many errors to win consistently,” said Griffeth.
The 8-12 Raiders squandered a stellar pitching performance Monday by Brock Turner, who hurled a two hitter.
“He’s a game under .500 and he’s got an ERA under one,” noted Griffeth of the 3-4 starter. “He’s been throwing the ball well.
The home squad Flowery Branch team scored a run in the bottom of the first inning Monday after the first batter of the game was hit by a pitch. A couple of Raiders’ fielding blunders helped that runner across the plate for the lone run of the game.
The team will then travel to Salem Friday at 5:55 p.m. and host Prince Avenue Saturday at 5 p.m. in the final regular season game.
Raiders 9 Clarke Central 5
In other recent action, Madison County split in a two-game season series with Clarke Central by bouncing the Gladiators 9-5 at Raider Field April 11. The Raiders, managing just four hits in a game one 6-1 loss to Central April 9, found their groove by pounding out 16 hits in the team’s second meeting.
On the hill Raider starter Alex Jordan kept Central from sweeping the series by pitching sven strong innings, striking out 13 of the 31 batters he faced including a string of six straight at one point of the contest.
Despite stranding nine runners on base, Madison County was able to strike early and often by posting runs in every inning but the sixth. Daniel Townsend got things started early by reaching first base after being hit by a pitch in the first inning. Daniel Brooks and Brock Turner followed with singles to load the bases with no outs. A balk call on Central’s hurler forced home Townsend for the Raiders’ first run and advanced both Brooks and Turner into scoring position. Bo Hardman then drove home Brooks giving the Raiders the early 2-0 advantage. After yielding two Gladiator runs in a 25-pitch second inning, Jordan settled down to pitch four straight scoreless innings. Clarke Central took advantage of back to back Raider errors in the seventh inning to post their final three runs breaking Jordan’s scoreless string.
The Raiders tallied a run each in the second, third, and fourth innings to push their lead to 5-2. With one out, Zeke Smallwood singled and later scored on a line drive hit to left field by Townsend for the second inning run. Wesley Johnson, who entered the game as a pinch runner for Jordan, scored the Raiders’ third inning run after stealing second base and later scoring on a two-out hit by Hayden Frey. Madison County tried to add to the lead in the same inning but ended up stranding two runners on base. Josh Dalton scored the Raiders’ fourth inning run after reaching on a leadoff double, later scoring on a single to right field by Daniel Townsend to put the Raiders on top 5-2.
Madison County sent 10 batters to the plate in the fifth inning where their four runs in the frame turned out to be the deciding margin. The Raiders got four straight singles, one each from Will McCarty, Hayden Frey, Zeke Smallwood, and Josh Dalton, with one out in the inning.
Smallwood’s hit drove home McCarty and a bases loaded walk to Daniel Brooks forced home Frey. Brock Turner reached on an infield hit driving home Smallwood and Bo Hardman picked up an RBI after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded driving home Dalton for the final Madison County run.
Jordan, who used an effective curve ball all night, received plenty of hit support from his teammates. Josh Dalton’s three-hit game led the Raiders followed by two hits each from Hayden Frey, Daniel Brooks, Brock Turner, Zeke Smallwood, and Will McCarty. Daniel Townsend and Austin Dean cleaned up with a hit each.
Loganville 7 Raiders 1
The Loganville Devils visited Danielsville Friday night sporting a 15-3 overall record that included a 10-0 region mark. By the time they left they were able to add another win to their totals after defeating the Red Raiders 7-1. Madison County managed six hits on the night but fell victim to strikeouts 11 times.
The Raiders entered the game knowing that they had their work cut out for them and for the first two innings, they did the job pretty well. Hayden Frey took the loss on the mound but had two very good first innings before running into trouble in the third. Frey sat down the first three Devils of the game and ended the second inning by striking out two straight batters stranding a runner at third. Madison County had numerous chances to put some runs on the board throughout the game. The Raiders got a leadoff double from Daniel Brooks to open the second inning, but after advancing to third he was left hanging when the inning ended. Madison County then put two more runners on base in the third inning. Will McCarty drew a one out walk and Daniel Townsend singled but neither runner was able to put spike marks on the plate after Bo Hardman went down swinging and Brock Turner flied out to left to end the threat.
Loganville broke through in a big way in the top of the third inning by using the long ball to jump out in front 3-0. Frey surrendered a leadoff double and was later touched for back-to-back home runs by Kyle Hall and Clint Frazier. The three-run third ended Frey’s night on the mound with three complete innings pitched allowing the three runs on five hits while striking out three.
Daniel Brooks opened the Raider fourth inning with his second double of the night and ended up scoring Madison County’s only run compliments of a wild pitch. Loganville was able to answer with a run in the top half of inning number five and put the finishing touches on the win with a three-run seventh inning.
The Raiders, who finished the night with six runners left on base, put together one more threat prior to Loganville’s seventh inning rally. Mixed in between three strikeouts in the inning, Will McCarty drew a walk and Zeke Smallwood lined a single to left field but a strikeout by Austin Dean ended the frame with McCarty and Smallwood stranded.
Dean pitched three innings in relief, allowing four runs on five hits while walking two and striking out one. Lee Griffeth also pitched an inning allowing only one hit and no runs. Daniel Brooks and Daniel Townsend led the Raider offense with two hits each followed by a hit from Bo Hardman and Zeke Smallwood.
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