CALHOUN, Ga. -- What a difference a year has made for the Sonoraville High School baseball team.
Last spring the Phoenix hosted Ringgold in a key late-season region game and didn't handle the moment very well, committing a handful of errors in a lopsided loss. Tuesday, with state power and Gordon County neighbor Calhoun visiting in another important region matchup, Sonoraville came through.
Senior Thad Harris pitched a two-hitter and belted two home runs in a 5-1 win that completes a season sweep of the Yellow Jackets. Sonoraville's win further tightens the region race, leaving Ringgold atop the standings at 6-1 and leaving the Phoenix, Calhoun and Adairsville tied with two losses each.
"That's a big win for this program and a big one for this season," Sonoraville coach Deron Walraven said. "We had kind of put ourselves in a hole if we want to win this region, because we have to win out. This was step one in what has to happen, and it's all in our hands and we're capable of doing that."
Harris, who struck out eight and did not give up an earned run, admitted this year's team has a different mentality when approaching a big game.
"We've matured a bit from last year," said Harris, who also earned the win against the Jackets earlier this season. "We've got a lot of seniors now who have played in big games, so we came out tonight and played loose. We were laughing and joking the whole time and that's a big key for us. It's just a game and we've got to have fun playing it."
The cutting up started early after Harris led off the bottom of the first with a prodigious homer to right field. However, Calhoun (9-4, 6-2) tied it in the second on Spencer Cross's double and a two-out error.
The game was still 1-1 in the fourth when Brevin Harris stroked a two-out RBI double to right-center and, following a walk, Thad Harris smashed a three-run blast to right.
He finished up on the mound by allowing only one hit -- Cross's second double of the night in the sixth -- and induced eight ground-ball outs in the final four innings.
"Thad had an outstanding game," Walraven said. "To pitch a complete game and hit two home runs, you can't ask any more of a senior in such a big game.
"Coming out in that first inning with Thad hitting that home run kind of loosened us up. Playing with a lead is a lot better than trying to catch up, because all your mistakes are magnified. I'm just so proud of these kids today."
Harris said he moved his pitches around more after watching Calhoun hitters start to time his fastball.
"I was able to attack both sides of the plate, and that was a big key," he said. "They started sitting on my outside fastballs about the third inning, so I started coming inside a little bit. I didn't have a feel for my changeup today, so I went with my curveball more. I knew once I established the inside part of the plate I was going to be all right."
Calhoun, which had won nine straight entering the game, has a chance to get back to the top of the standings Thursday with a game at first-place Ringgold. Sonoraville faces Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe that day and will end the season at home against Adairsville and Ringgold.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.