Johnathan Hickman's heads-up play helps spur Heritage first-round playoff sweep

Chamblee short stop Justin Johnson, right, awaits the throw at second as Heritage's Josh Gibson checks before also stealing third on a throwing error during Friday's Class AAAA state baseball double-header in Ringgold.
Chamblee short stop Justin Johnson, right, awaits the throw at second as Heritage's Josh Gibson checks before also stealing third on a throwing error during Friday's Class AAAA state baseball double-header in Ringgold.
photo Heritage center fielder Luke Grant hits early in the first game of a Class AAAA state baseball double-header against Chamblee on Friday in Ringgold. Grant later hit the winning RBI driving in Johnathan Hickman for a 4-3 win.

RINGGOLD, Ga. - It was a split-second decision, but when Johnathan Hickman saw the chance to make a possible game-winning play, he didn't hesitate.

The Heritage High School sophomore's mad dash from first to third on a sacrifice bunt in a tied game led to the winning run in a 4-3 Generals victory over Chamblee in game one of their Class AAAA first-round playoff series. Heritage (21-7) rolled in game two, 12-2, to advance to next Wednesday's second round.

"That was heads up," Heritage coach Eric Beagles said of Hickman's sixth-inning burst on Josh Gibson's bunt. "That's something we really work on a lot, being aggressive on the bases. He's a really heady player for us. He saw the opportunity to take the extra base, and it turned out to be a big play for us."

Hickman, a third baseman himself, saw the Chamblee infielder rushing the plate on the bunt and easily took the extra bag. Luke Grant singled him home to give the Generals and pitcher Dylan Bice the big win.

"I just saw the third baseman stay in, and I thought if he didn't go back to the bag I was going to take the base," Hickman said. "I knew it was a big moment and I'm glad it worked out. It feels amazing to reach the second round."

The visitors used their own daring baserunning to take an early 1-0 lead and parlayed a one-out stolen base from Shanti Williams to tie the game at 3 in the sixth against Bice, who had not allowed a runner past first in the previous four innings.

However, after Grant's RBI hit in the bottom half, Bice secured the win on just five pitches to sit down the top of the Bulldogs' order.

Chamblee again took a quick lead in game two, but the Generals erupted for three runs in the second inning and six in the fourth to earn the program's first home playoff series win. Lance Dockery had three hits, Gibson two and Bice a homer and two RBIs to back the five-hit pitching of sophomore right-hander Cole Wilcox.

"Dylan and Cole continued to do what they've done all year for us on the mound, and our kids executed some things they needed to execute," Beagles said. "It's a good feeling. When our season gets started, as early as it does, to go until May, it's a good feeling to still be alive."

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22

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