GUYTON, Ga. — Richmond Hill beat host South Effingham 5-1 Thursday night to claim its fourth consecutive Region 3-AAAAA baseball title.

“These guys worked hard in the off season and it shows,” Wildcat Coach Stacy Bennett said after the game. “They’re tough.”

South Effingham scored first in the bottom of the fourth inning, but that run is all Richmond Hill would allow.

The Wildcats got on the board in the top of the sixth inning when Parker Boyle doubled to the centerfield fence and advanced on Jackson Finley’s single. Boyle then scored on Will Wallace’s bunt. Wallace later scored on Rick Mitchell’s hit that fell just over second base, and Brennan Jamar’s hard grounder to deep shortstop brought in Mitchell and Braden Henle, who had reached base safely on a fielder’s choice.

Richmond Hill scored again in the top of the seventh inning when Boyle doubled and came home on a Mustang error at first base as they tried to throw out Finley. South Effingham went down one, two, three in the bottom of the seventh and the Wildcats mobbed winning pitcher Kyle Luigs on the mound.

“The seniors have been a huge part of our success,” Bennett said. “They waited their turn behind some quality players the last few seasons.”

Richmond Hill threatened to score in the third inning, loading the bases before going out on three consecutive strikeouts, and again in the fourth inning when the Wildcats put runners on second and third with one out but could not capitalize.

“We knew they (South Effingham) weren’t going to hand us anything,” Bennett said. “But we didn’t doubt we’d get our chances. “The guys who set the table did their job and we were patient.”

Richmond Hill, now 17-8, hosts Jones County, 20-5, next Friday