The Fayette

County Tigers recovered from an opening-game loss to Eagle's Landing in

fine fashion, sweeping a Saturday doubleheader to move into the quarterfinal

round of the AAAAA state baseball tournament.

"We got

the momentum and hit the ball well," said head coach Robert Townsend,

understating slightly the Tigers got 26 hits on the day and won by scores

of 10-2 and 11-1.

Joseph Edens

got both wins on the mound for Fayette County, whose team record is now

25-5. He pitched a complete-game five-hitter in the first game, striking

out eight while throwing only 80 pitches. "There were several innings

where he only threw five or six pitches," said Townsend.

Lee Hyde got

the offense started with a two-run homer in the first. That was it until

the fifth, when the Tigers broke a 2-all tie with three runs, then got

another in the sixth and four in the seventh, including Steven West's

two-run homer (Eagle's Landing was home team for the first game of the

day, Game 2 of the series).

Having evened

the series with the win, Townsend could now look at having the added luxury

of not having to use any relief pitchers in the first game. In preparation

for the final game, he asked Edens if he would be comfortable in relief

if necessary, since GHSA rules allow pitchers up to 10 innings per day.

Edens responded

off. Given his performance up to that point, it was an easy decision for

the coach to make, and Edens pitched the first three innings of the final

game to pick up the win.

Offense came

early and often for the Tigers in this one, with a run in the first, two

in the third, three in the fourth and five in the fifth. Included in the

team's 14 hits were a two-run home run by David Owens in the third and

a three-run shot by Ricky Williams in the fourth.

Austin Wilkes

pitched the final two innings, as the game was called due to the 10-run

rule.

Fayette County

starts the next round today with a 5 p.m. doubleheader at South Gwinnett.

Townsend and his players have not seen that team this year, but it doesn't

matter.

"It makes

no difference who you play," he said. "You've got to play good

on your given day."

( To get

to South Gwinnett High: Take I-20 east to Turner Hill Road/Hwy.

124 (the exit for The Mall at Stonecrest) and turn left. Go north on Hwy.

124 for 8-9 miles, then turn right on Hwy. 78. The school is on the right,

just past the second traffic light.

When you

pass the school, turn right on Odum Street and park in the parking lot

behind the bank. You will be able to see the baseball field behind the

school. )

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