The Vidalia Indians and Thomasville Bulldogs met Tuesday morning May 24 at J I Clements Field on the Georgia Southern campus at 10:00 am due to a rain out from the day before. This would be a best of three series to determine the 2A State Champions for 2022. The two teams split a double header with Vidalia taking Game 1 by a 14-4 score in five innings and Thomasville taking Game 2 by a 10-3 score in seven innings. The two teams will meet for Game 3 at 12:00 Wednesday, May 25 at J I Clements Field to determine who will be state champs.
Game 1
Bryson Whited started on the mound for the Indians. He went 5 innings giving up four runs, on seven hits, walking two and striking out three to pick up the win. The Indians were swinging the bats well in this game picking up 17 hits and scoring 14 runs to take the easy win. The Indian offense was led by Kevin Cox with 4 hits, 2 runs and 4 RBI’s; Ty Dalley with 4 hits, 2 runs and 2 RBI’s; Kaleb Bennett with 3 hits, 1 run and 3 RBI’s. Walker Moncus also had 2 hits and 1 RBI.
In the top of the 1st inning the Indians got a hit from Dalley but couldn’t score. In the bottom half the Bulldogs got a hit but a 5-4-3 double play ended the inning with no score.
In the top of the 2nd inning the Indians got a leadoff walk from Jordan Walden. After a fly out Cox stroked a single followed by an RBI single from Bennett putting the Indians on top 1-0 going to the bottom half. The Bulldogs got a leadoff walk but he was left stranded when Whited struck out the last two batters leaving the score at 1-0 Indians after two complete.
In the top of the 3rd inning the Indians would send 13 batters to the plate with 8 of them scoring. Dalley started the inning with a double and Graham walked. After an out Walden hit an RBI single then Spivey walked loading the bases. Cox followed with a two RBI single and Bennett got another RBI single. Bryce Davis followed with a bunt moving the runners to 2nd and 3rd. Whited picked up an infield single to knock in another run. Dalley picked up his second hit of the inning driving in a run which was followed by RBI singles from Graham and Moncus. When the dust had settled the Indians had scored 8 runs and led 9-0 going to the bottom half. The Bulldogs were able to pick up two runs in the bottom half on a walk, two singles and one error. The Indians were now up 9-2 after three complete.
In the top of the 4th inning the Indians were able to plate three more runs with doubles from Cox and Bennett, singles by Davis and Dalley wrapped around a walk to Whited putting them up 12-2 going to the bottom half. The Bulldogs were able to get one run back with a pair of doubles leaving the Indians up 12-3 after four complete.
In the top of the 5th inning Moncus led off with a single and was then forced out at second on a ground ball. Spivey drew a walk and then Cox drove in both runners with a double putting the Indians on top 14-3 going to the bottom of the inning. The Bulldogs were able to plate one more run making the final score 14-4 giving the Indians the run rule win in five innings.
Game 2
Caden Spivey started on the mound for the Indians going five innings giving up 7 runs on 8 hits, 2 walks, 2 hit batters while striking out 4 batters and taking the loss. Bryce Morley came on in the top of the 6th inning with two on and no outs. He pitched the final two innings giving up 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk. The offense fell short in this game picking up 9 hits but only able to plate three runs. Spivey led the offense with three hits.
In the top of the 1st inning the Bulldogs used three hits and two hit batters to score four runs taking a 4-0 lead into the bottom half. Dalley got a one out double and Graham was hit by a pitch. Moncus followed with an RBI single and after a strike out for the second out Spivey followed with an RBI single as well but another strike out ended the threat leaving the score at 4-2 after one complete.
The Bulldogs got a homerun to lead off the top of the 2nd inning. The Indians were able to match that run with a single from Bennett and a triple by Whited but that was it for the Indians leaving the score at 5-3 after two complete.
The Bulldogs would go on to plate runs in the 3rd, 6th and 7th innings but the Indians could not get any key hits to score any more runs leaving the final score at 10-3 in favor of the Bulldogs and forcing a third game on Wednesday. (Pictures By Carroll Williams)
