The Vidalia Indians met the Thomasville Bulldogs in Game 3 of the GHSA AA State Championship Finals Series on Wednesday, May 25 at J. I. Clements Stadium on the campus of Georgia Southern University The two teams had split a double header on Tuesday forcing Game 3 to decide who would be the state champions. The Indians would prevail in the exciting game by a score of 7-0 to win their first state baseball championship since 2003. The Indians completed the season with a 30-11 record.
Kevin Cox would get the start on the mound for the Indians and he would totally dominate the Bulldogs. Cox allowed no runs, only two hits and two walks while striking out nine. He capped off his great performance by striking out the side in the bottom of the 7th inning to claim the victory.
The Indian offense was still a little sluggish getting only 8 hits but they got them when they needed them to drive in runs. Bryson Whited and Ty Dalley had two hits each and scored two runs each with Dalley tacking on one RBI. Hughes Graham also scored two runs while Walker Moncus scored a run and had two RBI’s. Jordan Walden, Caden Spivey, Kevin Cox and Kaleb Bennett each had an RBI as well.
The Indians jumped on top with 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning. Whited led off the inning with a walk and Dalley followed with an RBI double to put the Indians up 1-0. Graham reached on a fielder’s choice putting runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Moncus laid down a sacrifice bunt to get the runners to 2nd and 3rd. Walden knocked in a second run with a ground out to the shortstop while also moving Graham to 3rd base. Spivey followed with an RBI single to give the Indians a 3-0 lead going to the bottom half. The Bulldogs made two quick outs but then got a walk and a single putting two on with two outs but Cox struck out the next batter leaving the Indians on top 3-0 after one complete.
Neither team could muster any offense over the next three innings. Cox was particularly efficient over that span setting the Bulldogs down 1,2,3 in each frame.
The Indians broke through again in the top of the 5th inning. Whited led off with a single and Dalley walked. Graham then laid down a perfect bunt single down the 3rd base line loading the bases with no outs. Moncus then laced a two run single into left upping the Indians lead to 5-0. Walden drew a walk to once again load the bases with no outs. After a strike out Cox lined an RBI single up the middle and when Bennett followed with a sacrifice fly to center the Indians had plated 4 runs and were now up 7-0 going to the bottom half. When Cox set down the Bulldogs in the bottom half that left the score at 7-0 with only two innings to play.
The 6th inning was scoreless sending the game to the 7th inning. The Indians were not able to score in the top half. This left them with needing to get three outs and become state champs. Cox went to the mound with a laser focus and fanned all three batters to secure the Indians first state baseball championship since 2003.
