By HORACE HOLLOMAN
Special to The Citizen
Christmas is coming early for fans of Fayette County’s spring sports teams as the second round of the plaoffs gear up for soccer and baseball teams this week.
In baseball action, the primary concern for Starr’s Mill head baseball coach Brent Moseley was his team’s inconsistent hitting, but those worries were soon put to rest in the opening round of the Georgia State High School Association state playoffs.
The Panthers thumped Lee County Friday afternoon for a 10-0 victory in the first game and won 6-1 in the second game, pushing them into the second round.
It took the Panthers just five innings to put away the Trojans in the first game due to the mercy rule. Garrison Elliott hit 2-for-4 with four RBI and starting pitcher Ryan Avidano was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Artemis Kadkhodaian had a solid day at the plate finishing the game 3-for-4.
“We have a few three-year starters on our team and when they hit we can be pretty good,” Moseley said.
Avidano recorded 10 strikeouts against the Trojans. Lee County struggled to get on base in the contest but had one opportunity to break through early. In the bottom of the second the Trojans got runners on first and second, but Avidano struck out the next two batters out to end the threat.
“We really aren’t weak in any areas but I would say our pitching has been the most consistent,” Moseley said.
The Panthers scored their first run in the bottom of the second and added two runs in third after Elliott and Avidano laced RBI singles. The Trojan defense allowed Starr’s Mill to pad their lead in the fourth after a costly error with two out led to two more Panther runs. In the bottom of the fifth Elliott struck a bases-clearing triple over the center fielder’s head to end the game.
The Panthers cruised to an easy 6-1 win in the second game of the double header to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Starr’s Mill hosts Houston County in a double header today at 4 p.m. at Panther Field.
McIntosh also advanced to the round if 16 and hosts Greenbrier today at 3 p.m, while Whitewater travels to Lakeside-Evans.
In soccer, the Whitewater, McIntosh and Starr’s Mill boys’ soccer teams advanced to the sweet 16. McIntosh hosts Evans today, while Starr’s Mill travels to Glynn Academy this afternoon. Whitewater hosts Windsor Forest today.
