GHSA 1st Round Baseball Playoffs
Best 2 out of 3 series
- Thursday, April 25 (Game #1)
The RHHS Wildcats came up against two Grayson High School pitchers that had their "A" game tonight. Grayson defeated the Cats tonight in the 1st round of the playoffs, game #1, 12-4 and game #2, 2-0, to end the 2024 season for the Wildcats. Ram pitcher Alex Espinoza got the win in game one, going 7 complete innings, striking out 6, allowing 4 earned runs, and giving up 10 hits. Grayson scored 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning, the Cats came back with 3 in the 2nd, and then the Rams plated 8 more runs in the 4th inning to put game 1 away. The Cats got 1 run back in the 5th and the Rams added another in the 6th. The Rams had 15 hits, with Elijah Miller going 3 for 3, and JD Smith, Austin Williamson, and Espinoza each had 2 hits apiece. Aiden Pluff got the start for the Cats and got the loss. Pluff, Bryce Hendricks, Lee Johnson, and Grant Wagner each had 2 hits for the Wildcats.
- Thursday, April 25 (Game #2)
In game two tonight, Wildcat pitcher Bryce Hendricks, and Ram pitcher Vernon Woodard, put on a pitching duel for the fans. Woodard pitched 7 complete innings, striking out 9, and only allowing 2 hits. Hendricks pitched 6 complete innings, giving up 2 runs, on 7 hits, and striking out 6. Lee Johnson and Gavin Martin had the only 2 hits for the Wildcats. Nick Jackson had 2 hits for the Rams, and Landon Arroyos and Elijah Miller drove in the only 2 runs for the Rams. Defensively for the Rams, shortstop Landon Arroyos was phenomenal in the field making several plays in both games. Defensively for the Cats, 2nd baseman Tony Berry made a spectacular play down the right-field line in game 2. The Grayson Rams (19-12) will now travel to East Coweta for the 2nd round, and the Wildcat's season ends with a 16-13 record.
Congratulations RHHS Wildcats on a great season, and especially our seniors: we wish you success in your next chapter in life! Thank you Coach Hill Thomas, all of our RHHS Assistant Coaches, the RHHS Administration/Athletic Director, the field/grounds crew, the Transportation Dept., the Bryan County Board of Education, parents, family members, and fans!
Allen Cox is a baseball contributor for the Bryan County News. He was previously head coach of Richmond Hill High School's softball team from 2004-2007.