War Eagles Take Game One 5-4 In Round Two Series Opener Between Woodward and Heritage

On Friday, the Woodward Academy War Eagles and the Heritage Generals began a three game series in the second round of the Georgia High School Association Baseball Class 4A State Playoffs. The Generals would get out to a 1-0 first inning lead when drilled a deep shot to right center field for a two out solo home run by #14 Jr. Johnathan Hickman off the outfield net.

In the bottom of the first, the War Eagles would answer right back when #38 Ethan Cornellius would send a three run shot over the fence in right center field to give Woodward a 3-1. Heritage would even things up at the top of the third inning when they Generals would tag Woodward's #21 Nik Thomson for back to back home runs by #15 Jr. Lance Dockery and #8 Sr. Joseph Hill to make it 3-3 game.

Later in the bottom of the third inning with two outs and a runner on third, the War Eagles would take a 5-3 lead when #8 Wesley Maxey drilled a line drive through the gap between first and second putting Woodward back on top. The General's #16 Jr. Alex Coulter would help Heritage cut the War Eagle's lead to 5-4 with an RBI single with one out and runners at first and third in the top of the fifth inning. In the sixth inning, neither team would manage to score despite having runners in scoring position.

However, in the top of the seventh inning, the Generals looked to be on the verge of taking the lead loading the bases with closer #12 Jordan Sayles on the mound for Woodward but would fail to take advantage of the scoring opportunity as #11 Jr. Cole Wilcox would line drive one to short for the second out of the inning and #2 Jr. Josh Gibson would ground out for the third out of the inning and Woodward taking Game 1 in the second round of the GHSA Baseball 4A State Playoffs by a final score of 5-4. Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) will take place on Saturday.