The Lumpkin County Indians hosted the West Hall Spartans on Thursday for a 7AAA regional matchup. The Indians won the contest 5-3, led by their starter Adian Rogers who tossed a complete game for the win. Cooper Scott led the offense in scoring with a go-ahead two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth. The Spartans were not able to overcome the deficit and go to 1-4 in the region.

Adian Rogers took the bump to start the game for the Indians and was met with immediate trouble. Justin Shaffer hit a deep fly ball to right field that bounced around and allowed Shaffer to get to third to lead off the game. The next batter, Brett Sturm brought Shaffer home on a sacrifice fly to center to give the Spartans the early 1-0 lead. Rogers would settle in and get out of the inning without giving up more runs and recording a strikeout. Harper Davenport stayed hot in the lead-off spot, hitting a single to center off Spartan starter Marcus Pugh. Alejandro Narvaez put up an eight-pitch battle in the next at-bat but would strike out looking. Peyton Wood got on base with an infield single, setting up first and third with Cooper Scott at the plate. Wood would steal second during Scott’s at-bat, drawing the throw which allowed Davenport to score from third, tying the game at one apiece. Pugh got the final two outs to get out of the inning while picking up a strikeout.

The Spartan’s offense went back to work in the top of the second, with Brandon Roberts getting on with a lead-off single. Roberts would move up to second on a fielder’s choice hit by Pugh. After getting Cody Davis to fly out, Rogers would walk the next two batters to load the bases. One run would score to give the Spartans the 2-1 lead, but Rogers would get out of the jam on a fly ball out to end the inning. Pugh had a clean frame in the bottom of the second, sending the Indian’s bats down in order to send the game to the third.

Evan Connor hit a single to center to start the third inning for the Spartans and would move to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cooper Tapp. Drew Svetz hit a line drive to right in the next at-bat, but Scott made a diving play to get the out and keep Connor at second. Rogers ended the inning in the next at-bat on a groundball to third. Aidyn Flanagan led off the bottom of the third for Lumpkin and got on with a single. Flanagan moved to second on a wild pitch during Davenports at-bat who would lineout to left for the first out. Narvaez drew a walk in the next at-bat, bringing Wood to the plate. Wood hit a ball on the ground, allowing Flanagan to go home from third, but would be thrown out at the plate. Pugh would end the inning by striking out Scott with runners on first and third.

Rogers came on for his fourth inning of work and got the first two Spartans to fly out. Shaffer kept the inning alive with a two-out double to right-center field, but Sturm would fly out to center to end the inning. Rogers was hit by the pitch to begin the bottom of the fourth, followed by an infield single off the bat of Hayden Gilbert. Mason Hester hit into a double play in the next at-bat, eliminating base runners at first and third. Tyler Boggs came up big for the Indians, hitting an inside-the-park home run to give the Indians the 3-2 lead. Pugh would get out of the inning in the next at-bat on a ground ball out hit by Flanagan.

The Spartan offense looked to be in business in the top of the fifth inning; Page and Connor reached base to open the frame on an E6 and a walk, respectively. Tapp then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to advance the runners to second and third with DH Svetz at the dish. Svetz hit a fly ball to shallow right field that was snagged by Scott who fired the ball to second base where Connor was off the bag and called out on the inning-ending double play. Davenport stayed hot to open the bottom of the fifth, hitting his second lead-off single of the game. Narvaez would trade places with Davenport on a fielders choice, bringing up Wood who would strike out for the first out of the inning. Scott came to the plate and extended the Indian’s lead with a 2-run home run to deep left center, making the score 5-2. After walking Rogers in the next at-bat, Pugh would get a flyball out of the bat of Gilbert to end the inning.

Roberts led off the top of the sixth for the Spartans and hit a ball to deep center but was thrown out trying to make it to second. Rogers sent the next two Spartans down in order to send the game to the bottom of the sixth. Pugh came back to the mound and got the Hester to pop out to first for the out. Boggs reached on an E3 in the next at-bat but would be erased on an inning-ending double play.

Down 5-2 in the top of the seventh, Shaffer stepped to the plate and hit a lead-off double to get the Spartan bench fired up. Sturm advanced Shaffer to third in the next at-bat on a fielders choice who was then brought home on a single off the bat of Page to make the score 5-3. Rogers would not get rattled, and struck out the next batter and got the final out on a flyball to center for the complete game win.

The Lumpkin County Indians are now 11-2 on the season and 4-1 in the 7AAA region. The Indians will host the West Hall Spartans for the final game of their three-game series on Saturday at 5 PM. The Indians look to go for the sweep and the Spartans look to get back in the win column.

Region 7AAA Standings

Dawson 5-1
Pickens 4-1
Lumpkin 4-1
Wesleyan 1-2
White 1-4
West Hall 1-4
Gilmer 0-3