From Staff Reports

 

AMERICUS, GA – A walk-0ff home run by Southland Academy left fielder Landon Law gave the Raiders a 6-5 victory over The Glenwood School (GS), a school from Phoenix City, AL.

The game was played on Saturday, March 23, at Southland Academy (SA).

The game went into extra innings. With the score tied at 5-5 with one out, Law belted the game-winning home run to give the Raiders a 6-5 come-from-behind victory.

Law was 2 for 5 at the plate and scored three runs, including the walk-off home run.

GS opened the scoring in the top of the first when Wes Johnson laid down a sacrifice bunt to score a run for the Gators. GS would later add another run in the first to take a 2-0 lead. The Gators added two more runs in the top of the third to take a 4-0 lead.

SA scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut their deficit to 4-2. Hunter McCain led off the inning with a single. This would lead to two runs being scored by the Raiders in the inning.

The Raiders scored another run in the bottom of the fifth. Adam Smith led off the inning with a double. After Alex Bell grounded into a fielder’s choice, Clay Owens hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Smith from third to make it 4-3 Gators.

GS added a run in the top of the sixth, but the Raiders responded with two runs of their own to tie the game at 5-5. With a runner at first and nobody out, George Wall got hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second with nobody out for SA. Both runners advanced to third and second respectively on a wild pitch by GS pitcher Luke Davis. The Raiders would later score two runs on another wild pitch by Davis and a passed ball to tie the game at 5-5.

Neither team could score the go-ahead run in the seventh or eighth innings. The Gators had the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the ninth, but SA relief pitcher Owen Exley was able to pitch his way out of the jam to set up Landon Law’s game-winning heroics in the bottom half of the inning.

SA third baseman Luke Law struck out swinging for the first out in the bottom of the ninth, setting the stage for his brother. With a 1-1 count, Landon Law belted the next pitch over the left field wall to give the Raiders a thrilling 6-5 victory.

Exley took the win for the Raiders. He surrendered no runs or hits and struck out one over two innings pitched. Landon Russell took the loss for the Gators. Russell gave up one run on two hits and struck out three batters over one and one-third innings.

Chase Ledger started on the mound for the Raiders. He pitched two innings, allowing two runs on two hits. He struck out two batters and walked none.

In addition to Landon Law’s offensive production, Hunter McCain had a good day at the plate. McCain went 2 for 4, scored a run and drove in an RBI.

The day before Saturday’s come-from-behind win, the Raiders got a solid outing from starting pitcher Adam Smith in their 5-1 Region 3-AAA victory over Valwood on Friday, March 22, at Southland Academy (SA).

Smith pitched six and one-third innings and allowed only one run on six hits while striking out one. Chase Ledger came on in relief for Smith and pitched two-thirds of an inning. Ledger gave up no runs or hits. He walked none and struck out two batters.

Mac McRae took the loss for the Valiants. McRae pitched five and one-third innings, allowing five runs on six hits and striking out three. Tyler Kennedy, Hunter McCain, Luke Law, Freddie Updike and Owen Exley each earned one hit and drove in an RBI for the Raiders. Clay Owens went 1 for 4 and scored two runs, and both George Wall and Alex Bell each earned a hit for SA.

The Raiders will continue Region 3-AAA play when they host Region 3-AAA opponents Deerfield-Windsor on Tuesday, March 26. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.