DALTON, Ga. – Jantzen Calvo could feel the importance of the situation as the Dalton High School senior stood in the batter’s box in the ninth inning of a 6-6 baseball game Friday night.
The bases were loaded and two men out as the third baseman fouled off a pair of two-strike pitches before lining an outside fastball into right field to give the Catamounts a 7-6 extra-innings win over Allatoona.
The big hit – and the victory – kept Dalton’s Region 6-AAAAAA title hopes alive.
“The pressure was definitely on, and we had to get a runner in,” Calvo said, knowing the Cats earlier had squandered two late chances to win. “It’s a great team win, and now we have to get one more Tuesday.”
That’s when Dalton (20-6, 12-3) and the Buccaneers (24-3, 11-2) will meet again, this time at Allatoona, in what will be the region finale for the Cats. A win by the Cats would clinch at least a tie for the region championship and would guarantee them of the No. 1 seed by virtue of a sweep of the Bucs.