LaFAYETTE, Ga. – The last thing Eric Beagles wanted Monday was drama. With a do-or-die game looming Thursday, the Heritage High School baseball coach just wanted his team to focus and take care of business.
The Generals did just that, collecting 12 hits and taking advantage of eight errors to down LaFayette 11-3.
Heritage is tied with Gilmer County, which defeated Dalton on Monday, for the final state playoff spot from Region 7-AAA, and the two will face each other Thursday in Ellijay.
“One down, one big one to go,” said Beagles, whose team made three errors. “We’ve got to have two good days of practice and get some things ironed out and get ready to pack up and go to Gilmer on Thursday. I was very proud of [winning pitcher] Riley Sparks. He gave us some good innings today on the mound, and that was huge for this baseball team.”
Sparks allowed seven hits, struck out six and walked no one in a game that was still tight in the middle innings. The fourth LaFayette error of the game allowed a go-ahead run to score in the fourth inning with two out. The extra out also led to Hunter White’s RBI single and a 4-2 Heritage lead.