TUNNEL HILL, Ga. — Gavin Nuckolls provided a lightning bolt of energy for Northwest Whitfield’s baseball team when the junior right-hander smashed a go-ahead three-run homer that flew into the trees beyond left-center and down the hill behind the fence at Richard S. Chumley Field.
But like lightning, the moment and the lead didn’t last for the host Bruins in their best-of-three series against Cherokee Bluff in the second round of the GHSA Class AAA playoffs Thursday evening.
While Nuckolls’ blast came in a 6-4 defeat in game one of the doubleheader against the visitors from Flowery Branch, Northwest senior Caden Ramsey delivered in the clutch in game two as the lefty hit a two-run single with two outs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 5. However, 11th-seeded Cherokee Bluff would prevail 6-5 as the home team in game two and advanced to next week’s state quarterfinals
Northwest, which was the bracket’s No. 6 seed, concluded its season at 19-15 on a night when senior Chance Whitfield and junior Trent Hixson joined Nuckolls in hitting home runs.
Northwest Whitfield vs. Cherokee Bluff baseball on May 1, 2025
In game one, junior ace Will Wade’s toughness showed as the southpaw pitched with a cast on his right arm after breaking it a few weeks ago after getting hit by a pitch. Wade struck out six batters in 4 1/3 innings as he allowed five hits and three earned runs. Sam Crossen provided stellar relief as the senior threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings with a trio of strikeouts while inducing two double plays.
Cherokee Bluff (23-11), though, got a complete game from senior left-hander Gabe Gowder as he allowed all four runs in the bottom of the third inning, which Whitfield led off with a no-doubt shot down the left-field line. Gowder fanned eight Bruins in the victory, while Cody Bridger and Ethan England led the visitors at the plate with a pair of hits and RBIs.
The Bruins had a pair of costly fielding mistakes in the third inning of the opener that put them behind 3-0 before Nuckolls’ two-strike blast provided a brief lead. Cherokee Bluff’s Bridger would take the lead back in the top of the fourth on a line-drive, two-run shot.
Nuckolls stood out in game two by going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI single down the right-field line, while Whitfield’s RBI double made it 3-all in the top of the fourth with the Bruins batting first in the second game.
Cherokee Bluff’s Bubba Coleman starred in game two with a home run and a pair of hits and runs scored.
Northwest got another strong relief appearance in the finale as Ramsey recorded nine strikeouts after coming out of the bullpen just four batters into the game.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.