North Gwinnett Stays Atop 7-AAAAA Race

Note: Records in this story are as of April 15, 2012

(10-3) kept pace with Mill Creek atop the Region 7-AAAAA standings Saturday with a 3-2 win over (8-5) at Coolray Field. Alex Kimble singled to left field, scoring JD Dutka in the bottom of the sixth inning to complete a three-run frame that put the Bulldogs ahead 3-2.

It was the Bulldogs' first lead of the game and all that starter Tucker Baca needed to complete the victory.

Baca, just a sophomore, kept his record on the season perfect and moved to 5-0. His pitching line was seven innings pitched, allowing just two hits and two runs. He walked one batter while striking out six. Baca completed two innings in which he only threw six pitches each inning (fifth and seventh). He also struck out the side in the fourth inning.

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Trailing 0-2 coming into the bottom of the sixth, Cody Short was hit by the first pitch from Peachtree Ridge starter Coltan Ramsey. Cole Willoughby followed with an opposite field triple, and then Dutka punched a single to right center. Just like that, the game was tied at 2-2 and Peachtree Ridge head coach Ryan Hanik brought in Tyler Haswell to pitch.

Haswell almost worked out of the inning by retiring the first two batters he faced. But Dutka stole second base to set up what would become the play of the game. On a 1-2 count to batter Alex Kimble, head coach Frank Vashaw called a hit-and-run. As the Lions third baseman Jonathan Hudson went to cover the bag, Kimble hit a ground ball to an empty third base position. The ball made it into shallow left field and with Dutka running on the play, he was able to score the go-ahead run.

“We created movement on the play and it worked for us”, commented North Gwinnett coach Vashaw after the game.  From the opposite dugout, Hanik commented, “If they aren’t running on the play, it’s a routine ground ball to third base and the inning is over. But you have to tip your cap to him (Vashaw).”

For Peachtree Ridge, starter Coltan Ramsey pitched very well also. In five innings of work, Ramsey allowed four hits and three runs. He walked two batters and struck out four. Two of the four hits and all three runs scored in the sixth inning in which he did not record an out.

The Lions scored first in the third inning. Cole Rives led off with a double and was pushed to third on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Haswell. Then Bulldog starter Baca hit Robert Sanchez with a pitch to set up runners at first and third for the Lions. Baca appeared to have Sanchez hung up on a pickoff throw, but Sanchez beat the throw into second base and Rives scored from third on the play.

The Lions scored again in the sixth inning. Billy Best doubled to left field and then Hanik used Chris Wagner as a pinch runner. Wagner stole third base and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Brian Hanberry.

North Gwinnett returned to region play Monday at Collins Hill, and Peachtree Ridge resumes Wednesday night, hosting Collins Hill. North Gwinnett does have one game remaining with Mill Creek. It is scheduled for April 27 at McDaniel Field in Suwanee.

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