CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. - Baseball coaches typically appreciate days off, but don't count Gordon Lee's Mike Dunfee among that group.
Dunfee's Trojans, following a 16-day layoff between the end of the regular season and their first postseason games, were sluggish in a second-round win in the GHSA state playoffs. However, just four days later, they came to life while sweeping Irwin County in the Class A public quarterfinals Wednesday.
Gordon Lee (25-5), the No. 2 seed, had two big innings in a 12-0 first-game win before jumping out to a 6-0 lead and hanging on for a 7-4 win in the second game. The Trojans will face the winner of the quarterfinal series between Charlton County and Johnson County, who split a doubleheader Wednesday at Charlton County. The hosts won the first game 3-1 but lost the second 4-3.
"The first round we had 16 days off before we played, and there are no excuses there, but we were rusty," Dunfee said. "So this round I was excited with just three days' rest. People asked about our pitching, but we've got 12 guys we can count on - and I will throw any of them out there - so we weren't worried."
The Trojans set the tone early, scoring four runs in the first inning of game one, including a two-run home run by Noah Peterson and Dylan Minghini's solo shot two pitches later. They put the game away with a seven-run fourth inning highlighted by Minghini's two-run double. Mason Pettigrew and Jake Wright combined for a two-hitter.
In game two, it was Minghini who drew first blood with an RBI single in the third inning before Gordon Lee added three runs in a fourth inning that included runs scoring on a wild pitch and a balk. Two unearned runs in the fifth made it 6-0 before the Indians (21-8) tacked on all of their runs late.
"Our sticks came alive this round," Dunfee said. "We had a great two days of practice, and I knew we were coming alive. Hitting is contagious, and when one person hits one, look out."
Minghini, who had four hits and four RBIs, agreed.
"Toward the end of the year, we started heating up with the bats, and this was the perfect time," he said.
Caleb Hopkins had two hits in game one and a solo homer in game two, while Ethan Clark earned the pitching win with six innings of three-hit pitching without allowing an earned run.
- In other quarterfinal series involving northwest Georgia teams, Dalton and Pope split in Class AAAAAA, with Pope winning game one 9-3 and the Catamounts rallying in game two for a 3-2 win.
In AAA, Coahulla Creek swept at Redan, winning 2-1 in game one as ace Trent Collins pitched a two-hitter and 9-8 in game two after holding a 9-2 lead after two innings. Hayden Lock and Donovan Sims each had three hits in game two.
Calhoun and Lovett split, with the Yellow Jackets winning game one 3-2 behind a strong start from Brett Potts, then losing 5-4 in game two despite having 12 hits. Ryan Randall and Austin Trammell had three hits each in the second game.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.