CALHOUN, Ga. – Chip Henderson couldn’t recall the last time — or any time — one of his Calhoun High School baseball teams pounded out 13 hits and none of them went for extra bases. That’s just what the Yellow Jackets did Wednesday in game one of their GHSA Class AA second-round series against Cook County, rolling to a 10-0 five-inning win in workmanlike style.
The Jackets completed the sweep with a 6-1 win, setting up a quarterfinal matchup against familiar playoff foe Lovett, tentatively scheduled for a 5 p.m. doubleheader start to the best-of-three series Tuesday.
“We’re playing well right now,” Henderson said after his team out-hit the Hornets 20-4 and played errorless ball. “It took us a while to get to this point where we’re getting quality pitching, good defense — this is another series without any errors — and timely hits. We’re getting baserunners on to extend innings, and that’s big because from here on it gets even tougher.
“These guys are seeing the ball well up and down the lineup and not trying to do too much with it. They’re taking good approaches to the plate, getting good pitches and taking advantage of it.”
Senior ace Austin Norrell pitched a one-hitter in game one, striking out eight without issuing a walk in what Henderson called one of the three-year starter’s best games. He received all the runs he would need in the first inning on Westin McArthur’s two-out RBI single.