Monticello Hurricane Baseball Bows Out of Playoffs

The Monticello Baseball team traveled to Mableton last Thursday and Friday for the first round of the GHSA Playoffs for Class A, Division 1.

Their opponent, Whitefield Academy, was the 2023 Region 6-A Champ and finished with a 22-5 record, 15-1 in region play. Their status as region champ came down to the last week of the season, as they were tied with King’s Ridge Christian until a head to head matchup and a King’s Ridge loss gave Whitefield the title.

The Hurricanes fell 11-1 in game 1, which had the start time delayed two hours due to rain. After leaving two runners on base in the top of the first inning, Whitefield struck quickly, with back to back walks to lead off the game, followed by a single to load the bases. A sacrifice fly plated the first run of the game, and then a double plated two more.

After a walk, a wild pitch scored another run, and then a hit-by-pitch and walk loaded the bases. Another walk forced in the fifth and final run.

The Wolfpack added four more runs in the second, courtesy of more generosity by Hurricane pitching, along with a bases clearing triple that brought in two runs.

One Hurricane highlight of the inning was a Whitefield runner caught stealing on a throw down to 2nd by catcher Chandler Aguirre. This quelled the Whitefield rally, and two consecutive groundouts ended the inning. The Hurricanes were able to put something together in the top of the third, with singles by Hunter Hays and Hunter Sorrows followed by Evan Diaz reaching on an error loaded the bases.

After a pop-out and a strikeout put two outs on the board, Tom Schilling came through with a single to left to score the only Hurricane run of the game. Whitefield plated a single run in the bottom of the fourth, and ended the game in the bottom of the fifth by mercy rule when they scored their eleventh run of the game.

Game two was a different story in itself. Even though darkness was approaching, and it had been overcast all day, the decision was made to play game two. The game started with Whitefield at the plate as the “visitor” as GHSA playoff series mandates. Defense seemed to be optional, as Whitefield scored an unlikely 10 runs in the first inning before the Hurricanes had even come to the plate. All 10 of the runs were unearned, and it looked as though the Wolfpack would be able to coast to an easy victory.

The Hurricanes were again able to get two men on base courtesy of walks to Hays and Diaz in the bottom of the first, but were unable to capitalize. Whitefield added another run in the top half of the second, to make it 11-0, but the Canes were able to come storming back. Schilling led off the bottom half of the inning with a shot up the middle that deflected off the glove of pitcher Nicholas Olson.

After a strikeout, consecutive walks to Grady Jordan and Ethan McMichael loaded the bases. Another strikeout put two outs on the board, but a Sorrows walk forced in one run, and a Diaz single brought in another before a groundout ended the inning with the score 11-2.

With darkness coming in fast, Schilling was able to work a scoreless top of the third, working around a leadoff walk before the game was called for darkness and to be resumed on Friday.

Play started Friday on what turned out to be a beautiful day for baseball. After going down in the bottom of the third to start the completion of the game, Grady Jordan, who came in to pitch for Schilling after the day’s delay, was able to set down Whitefield in order, albeit in an unconventional way, starting with a strikeout, hitting the next batter, and then getting a pop-out where Levi Shaw caught the runner too far from first, and doubled him off.

The Wolfpack did add two more runs in the top of the fifth to set up the chance for a mercy rule victory yet again, with the score 14-2 going into the bottom of the fifth, but lo and behold, the bats came alive for the Hurricanes, scoring not one, not two, but 10 runs in the bottom of the fifth to bring the score to 14-12 and give the Canes some life.

After a strikeout to start the inning, Aguirre was hit in the ribs by a pitch. Tres Cohran singled to center, and Schilling scorched another single to load the bases. Chevy Sands then came through with a third consecutive single to plate courtesy runner Gabe Evans, and Grady Jordan came through with another single to drive in Cohran and reload the bases. A walk to Ethan McMichael brought home Schilling, and kept the Hurricanes alive.

Leadoff batter Hays came to the plate and attacked the first pitch that he saw, a towering fly ball to the fence in centerfield for a double that scored Sands and Thurman, who had pinch ran for Jordan. Cayden Banks pinch hit for Sorrows, and after a balk by Whitefield brought home McMichael

to make the score 14-8.

Banks walked to put runners on the corners with still only one out. A walk to Diaz reloaded the bases, and Aguirre then hit a ground ball to short for a fielder’s choice that he barely beat out hustling to first to prevent the double play and keep the inning alive. Cohran, coming to the plate again, popped up to right, but an error allowed him to reach and scored Sorrows, who had re-entered the game for Banks. Schilling then obtained his second hit of the inning, driving in Evans and Cohran, and putting the score at 14-12.

Unfortunately for the Canes, the Whitefield bats were just as ready, and they scored 12 runs in the next two innings to put the game back out of reach. The Canes were able to add one in the seventh, with Sands driving in Cohran with a sac fly to make the final score of 26-13, eliminating the Canes from the playoffs. Thanks to all of the fans for the support this season, we’ll see you around the diamond for more baseball this summer.