Jackets Knock Off Defending Champs As Wayne County Defeats Locust Grove, Headed to GHSA Baseball 5A

On Thursday, the Locust Grove Wildcats faced the Wayne County Yellow Jackets in a decisive Game 3, with the winner advancing to the Georgia High School Association Baseball 5A Championship Game. A win for the Wildcats would mean a chance to win back to back State Titles and the second in school history. The Yellow Jackets would jump out to an early 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning but with runners at second and third, a sacrifice fly by Locust Grove’s #17 Nolan Crisp would make it a 2-1 game in favor of the Yellow Jackets in the top of the fourth inning.

But in the bottom of the fourth inning, Wayne County would add to their lead and take a 4-1 lead over Locust Grove. In the top of the seventh, still trailing 4-1, the defending champs would start a rally beginning with a two run RBI double by #2 Joah Curry to make it a 4-3 game as Wayne County led by one. Later in the inning, with a runner at third base and two outs, #13 Clay Shearouse would come up with the big RBI triple to tie the game at four a piece.

As the game went into extra innings, the Wildcats would take their first lead of the game when #20 Gavin Lee would drill an RBI single with one out to give Locust Grove a 5-4 lead. The Wildcats then go up 6-4 in the same inning after another RBI single by #15 Cole Powell. In the bottom of the ninth, trailing by two, the Yellow Jackets would come up with a rally of their own loading the bases with two outs and #11 J.T. Crosby connecting for the RBI single to make it a 6-5 game.

With the next batter at the plate and bases once again loaded, Locust Grove’s #7 Luke Welborn would walk Wayne County’s #10 Griffin Boykin as the game would now be tied at six a piece. In the top of the tenth inning, the Wildcats would once again regain the lead after another RBI single by Lee as Locust Grove now led 7-6.

But in the bottom of the tenth, with one out and bases loaded, Wayne County’s #4 Cade Lambert come up big at the plate for the two run RBI and the Yellow Jackets would defeat the defending GHSA 4A State Champions, Locust Grove by a final score of 8-7. Wayne County will face Loganville next week for the GHSA Baseball 5A State Championship.