Young Harris, GA – Southern Wesleyan put up a late rally, however, they were unable to pass the Young Harris Mountain Lions on Wednesday afternoon. The Mountain Lions claimed the game in 9-7 final score.
The Warriors collected 11 hits in the non-conference match up against the Mountain Lions. Griffin Pickhardt led the team with three hits, while Nolan Evatt, Josh Long, and Marty Grisso each picked up two hits. Cam Mitchem brought three runs in to score. The Warriors walked four times, and both Grisso and Pickhardt stole bases.
Matthew White started the mid-week contest on the mound and pitched 1.1 innings while striking out one batter. Josiah Sizemore, Coleman Wylie, Logan Brazell and Cayden Towell each came in to pitch in relief. Wylie led the Warriors with four strikeouts over the four innings he pitched. Both Sizemore and Brazell also picked up strikeouts.
Game Vitals
Final: Young Harris 9, Southern Wesleyan 7
Records: Southern Wesleyan (7-25) Young Harris (21-9)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan went on the offensive early in the game as they brought two runs in to score in the first inning. Nolan Evatt led off by taking first base on a six pitch walk. Evatt advanced to second base as Josh Long hit a single to the Mountain Lions' shortstop. A wild pitch allowed both Evatt and Long to advance a base. Gage Shaver was hit by the second pitch he saw to load up the bases for Cam Mitchem. Mitchem ground out to the short stop to bring Evatt in to score. With Long and Shaver in scoring position, Jack Dennison hit a sacrifice fly out to left field to bring Long in to score to extend the Warriors lead to 2-0.
Young Harris threatened in the bottom of the inning as they got runners on the corners. However, Jack Dennison tracked a deep fly ball into foul territory in left field and caught it up against the fence for the third out of the inning.
The Mountain Lions continued to pressure the Warriors' defense as they brought seven runs in to score in the bottom of the second inning.
Young Harris pressed on as they brought a couple more runs in to score in the fourth and sixth innings to extend their lead to 9-2.
The Warriors cut into the Mountain Lions' lead in the seventh inning. Griffin Pickhardt led off the inning by singling to right field. Jarrett Whitley and Josh Long each walked to load up the bases. With the bases loaded, Gage Shaver sent the ball toward the shortstop. However, an error by Mountain Lions' shortstop allowed Shaver to reach first and brought Pickhardt in to score. The Warriors were not done as Cam Mitchem hit a line drive through the left side of the field to bring both Long and Whitley in to score to put the Warriors behind the Mountain Lions 9-5.
Southern Wesleyan continued to chip away at Young Harris' lead in the eighth inning. Marty Grisso led off the inning by hitting a single to left field. On the first pitch Niko Laing saw, Grisso took off and stole second base to get into scoring position. Laing grounded out seconds later to allow Grisso to advance to third. With Grisso ninety feet from home plate, Griffin Pickhardt singled to center field to bring Grisso in to score. Pickhardt stole second base to get into scoring position. The Warriors were not done as with two outs and Pickhardt at second, Nolan Evatt hit a single to right field to bring Pickhardt in to score. However, the Warriors could not pass Young Harris as they fell in a 9-7 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will welcome the Barton Bulldogs to Dr. C Keith Connor Field on March 28-29. On the 29th, prior to the first pitch of the first game of the afternoon, Southern Wesleyan will recognize their senior class. Southern Wesleyan will welcome the Georgia College Bobcats to Central on April 2 for a 5pm first pitch.
