GHSA Playoffs: Denmark Battles Past North Gwinnett
May 7, 2021
The #1 seed Danes of Denmark host the #2 seed North Gwinnett in the sweet sixteen match-up for 7A. They faced off in a double header for a chance to punch their ticket to the elite eight. Both teams battled until the final out was made. Denmark took game 1 with a stellar performance by Francesco Capocci. North Gwinnett would match them in game 2 with an outstanding performance on the mound by Michael Massey. Four total pitchers were used in the match-up, two for each side. Despite four great pitcher performances there was still some offense to go around.
Denmark would go on to win the decisive game 3 7-3 and advance to the elite eight where they will take on Parkview.
Game 1
‘23 RHP Francesco Capocci took to the mound for Denmark. ‘23 Tyler Bak led things off for North Gwinnett with a hard hit ball to the third baseman that would force an error. After a walk and sacrifice bunt, ‘22 Tyler Hower sent a single up the middle for the first run of the game.
‘21 West Florida commit Nic Ferrer led things off in the bottom of the first with a backside solo shot to right field. ‘22 Connor McGuinn fired a single back up the middle to give Denmark the 2-1 lead. ‘22 Brody Wheeler followed him with a single of his own.
‘22 Connor McGinn adds to the @DanesClub lead. Shoots one up the middle to put Denmark up 3-1 over North Gwinnett. pic.twitter.com/dXLdcLBIL6
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 5, 2021
‘22 Brody Wheeler sends another single up the middle for the Danes. #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/7HXrDLHBDn
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 5, 2021
Denmark came out swinging with a five run first inning.
‘23 Francesco Capocci began to settle in during the second inning. Capocci attacked hitters with a fastball at 87-89, topping out at 90. His velocity held strong for the entire game. He started to mix in a breaking ball at 75-78 later in the game. Also flashed a change-up/splitter type pitch at 82-84. Capocci has the make to be a low-mid 90’s arm in the years to come.
‘23 RHP Francesco Capocci (@DanesClub) settles in after giving up a run in the 1st. Attacking hitters with the fastball.
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 5, 2021
FB 87-90
North Gwinnett- 1
Denmark- 5 pic.twitter.com/rd4tk4SpjK
Wofford commit ‘21 Coulson Buchanan got the start on the mound for the Dawgs. He settled down after the first and began to find his grove. His fastball ticked up as the game went on and settled in at 83-86. Buchanan could really spin the breaking ball at 72-75.
#Wofford commit ‘21 RHP Coulson Buchanan (@NGDawgsBaseball) gets a scoreless 2nd for the Dawgs. Starting to find his off speed pitches, and keeping the ball down in the zone.
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 5, 2021
FB 83-86
CB 72-75 #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/MHrW57TiMD
‘23 Capocci had some tough luck all day with some errors and a catcher's interference call that made it a 3-5 game third inning. He maintained his composure and minimized damage the entire. He came up with a couple big strikeouts with runners in scoring position.
After a shutdown inning for ‘21 Buchanan in the third the Dawgs looked to get something going in the fourth trailing by 2.
1-2-3 third for ‘21 Coulson Buchanan. Starting to find his groove. Fastball is ticking up. Off speed is getting sharper. Danes still lead by 2. #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/nSmxVoF6XQ
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 5, 2021
Capocci took care of the Dawgs in the fourth. After a two out walk, Alabama commit ‘22 C Sammy Leis sent a ball down the fist base line for a RBI triple to make it 6-3 Denmark.
#Alabama commit ‘22 C Sammy Leis takes advantage of a 2 out walk and shoots one down the line for a RBI triple. #GHSAPlayoffs
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 5, 2021
After 4
North Gwinnett 4
Denmark 6 pic.twitter.com/H8AE0OnFqb
Uncommitted ‘21 Ashton Long battled at the plate all day. He fouled a ball off his foot, and had his legs taken out from under him on a head first slide at first that would cause him to have to leave the game in game 2. He singled to start the 5th inning.
Uncommitted ‘21 1B Ashton Long gets the 5th going with a single. Strong framed righty has a smooth, short stride swing. Swinging the bat well today. #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Stlrdwr5zi
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 5, 2021
‘23 Francesco Capocci gets a big strikeout after three singles by ‘21 Ashton Long, ‘22 Josh Close, and ‘22 Sebastian Rutledge.
‘23 RHP Francesco Capocci gets a big strikeout after back to back singles for the Dawgs. Continuing to pound the zone with a FB at 87-89. Starting to mix the breaking ball in more at 75-76. #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/aBj1EOAI9S
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 5, 2021
With the bases loaded ‘23 Tyler Bak puts a good swing on one, but gets knocked down by the first baseman. It was enough to score a run and make it a 5-6 game. Denmark still up.
‘23 OF Tyler Bak puts a good swing on but the 1B knocks it down. Manages to get a run across to make it a one run. #GHSAPlayoffs
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 5, 2021
North Gwinnett 5
Denmark 6 pic.twitter.com/ohmBcRf9v6
In the 6th ‘22 Tyler Hower had a 2-out triple, but Capocci came up with another big strikeout to strand him.
After a 2-out triple by ‘22 DH Tyler Hower, Capocci strands him at 3rd with a big strikeout. Looks strong finishing the 6th. Velo is holding. Off speed is getting better as he goes. @DanesClub still leads @NGDawgsBaseball by one. 6-5 pic.twitter.com/XqUcQekGVF
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 5, 2021
North Gwinnett could not get anything going in the 7th. Capocci gets the complete game win, and sends the Danes up 1-0 heading into game 2 in the best of 3 series.
Game 2
Similar to game 1 we would get to see another pitching duel that would end up in a one run game at the end.
Tulane commit ‘21 Michael Massey cruised through the first eight Denmark batters. ‘23 Kyle Henley singled through the right side to try to get the bats going for the Danes.
#Tulane commit ‘21 RHP Michael Massey retired the first 8 Denmark batters in order. Strong framed righty is forcing contact. Worked mostly FB first time through at 86-69. Mixed in a hard SL at 77-79.
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 6, 2021
After 2
Denmark 0
North Gwinnett 0 pic.twitter.com/xlU2Sg23CC
‘23 OF Kyle Henley (@DanesClub) gets a 2 out knock to the right side. Massey strands him at first. #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/dBR2D2X6iV
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 6, 2021
Uncommitted ‘21 Smaran Ramanathan took to the mound for the Danes. He filled up the zone with a fastball at 78-81 with sink. He mixed pitches well, and forced contact.
Uncommitted ‘21 RHP Smaran Ramanathan works clean through the first time of the Dawgs order. Forcing contact, working the FB both sides of the plate. Plays the CH off the FB well. #GHSAPlayoffs
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 6, 2021
FB 79-81
CH 73-74 pic.twitter.com/209H5f6tym
Ramanathan looked strong through 3 innings. He gave up back to back singles by ‘22 Sebastian Rutledge and ‘21 Nate Salyer (below).
After a lead off single by ‘22 Sebastian Rutledge, Uncommitted ‘21 Nate Salyer follows him up with a shot to left for his 3rd hit of the day. #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/U4KDW9ms2M
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 6, 2021
He forced a ground ball back to him that had the makings of double play, but pulled the third baseman off the back which would score the first run of the game for the Dawgs.
‘22 Tyler Hower had a great day at the plate. He extended the lead to 2 with a single up the middle.
‘22 Tyler Hower gets his 3rd hit of the day to extend the lead to 2-0 for @NGDawgsBaseball after an error by the pitcher to score the first run. pic.twitter.com/O3n9IgKXqE
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 6, 2021
In the 5th ‘21 Michael Massey got two quick outs, but after a hit batter and walk, uncommitted ‘21 Teddy Davenport capitalized with a 2-out single to make it a 1 run game.
After a HBP and BB with 2 outs. Uncommitted ‘21 Teddy Davenport shoots one down the line to score 2. Massey strands 2 Denmark runners with a big strikeout.
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 6, 2021
In the 5th
Denmark 2
North Gwinnett 3 pic.twitter.com/aHHkbVxzBP
‘22 Jake Myers led the 7th off with a single to try to give the Danes a late comeback, but would later get stranded after a pop-up bunt, and loud final out by ‘21 Teddy Davenport.
‘22 Jake Myers gets the 7th going with a single. @DanesClub is down to their final 3 outs with the top of the order coming up. #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/RlBnBQF8G1
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 6, 2021
North Gwinnett finished off game 2 with a 3-2 victory.#Tulane commit ‘21 Michael Massey goes CG to take game 2 3-2 to to force a game 3.
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) May 6, 2021
7.0 IP 8k 5h 2r
Game 2@DanesClub 2@NGDawgsBaseball 3 pic.twitter.com/5iHazZqBe6
Related Content