GHSA Playoffs: Houston County Blows By Richmond Hill
May 9, 2021
Warner Robins, GA - GHSA Class 6A second round action opened up on Wednesday. The Wildcats of Richmond Hill made the trip to take on Houston County and two of the state’s top 2021 arms.
Game 1
Houston County ran 6-foot-4, 225-pound RHP Brodie Chestnutt (Florida State) out to the mound for game 1 of the series. Chesnutt cruised through the first two batters of the game, picking up a strikeout and pop up, but got into a little trouble after that. SS Leighton Finely (Richmond Hill; Georgia) lined a single into left field, and then RHP/OF Luke Boone (Richmond Hill; Georgia State) drew a walk. OF Evan Cowan (Richmond Hill, 2022) broke the scoring open in the first with a double into the gap, scoring Finley and Boone. Chestnutt was able to limit the damage to two runs in the first.
Boone took the mound for Richmond Hill, and effectively shut the Houston County offense down the first time through the lineup, not allowing a hit. A one out walk to nine hole hitter turned the lineup over for Gage Harrelson (Houston County; Texas Tech). Harrelson, having a record breaking season for the Bears, made Boone pay as he launched one over the wall in dead center field to tie the game 2-2.
#TexasTech commit ‘22 OF Gage Harrelson (@hocobaseball) launches one over the wall in dead CF for a 2 run HR, picking up the Bears first hit of the game and tying it up.
— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) May 5, 2021
Richmond Hill - 2
Houston County - 2@PBRGeorgia @ShooterHunt #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/AmYM8nN2zt
1B Andrew Dunford (Houston County, 2023) extended the lead with a sacrifice fly, following a double by OF Treyson Hughes (Houston County; West Virginia). The inning was capped off by a Coleman Willis (Houston County; Georgia) solo home run. When the dust had settled, Houston County had taken a 5-2 lead.
The Bears take the lead on a passed ball. ‘23 1B Andrew Dunford adds to it with a sacrifice fly to RF, and then ‘21 DH Coleman Willis (#UGA) caps things off with a solo HR.
— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) May 5, 2021
Richmond Hill - 2@hocobaseball - 5
T4@PBRGeorgia #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/rhsGewtUsx
The offensive onslaught by Houston County would continue in the fifth inning. A leadoff double by Harrelson got the Bears started off. Then Hughes just missed leaving the yard as he banged one off the wall in center for a double. Already with one home run to his name, Willis doubled up, sending a missile over the right field fence for a two run bomb. If that was not good enough, 3B Drew Burress (Houston County, 2023) took the ensuing pitch over the left field fence. Just like that, the Bears had extended their lead to 9-2. Houston County would add another run in the sixth inning to make it 10-2.
#WVU commit ‘21 OF Treyson Hughes (@hocobaseball) nearly gets all of this as he bangs it off the wall in CF for an RBI 2B.
— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) May 5, 2021
Richmond Hill - 2
Houston County - 6
B5@PBRGeorgia #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/P3lnYw8bxy
BACK-TO-BACK!
— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) May 5, 2021
‘21 Coleman Willis (#UGA) blast his 2nd HR of the game, this time a 2 run bomb.
‘23 3B Drew Burress takes the first pitch in the following AB over LF for a solo shot.
Richmond Hill - 2
Houston County - 9
B6@PBRGeorgia #GHSAPlayoffs #PBRbombsquad @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/Zk9UGzWduw
After a shaky first inning, Chestnutt settled in nicely, allowing only three hits over the final six innings of the game to pick up the win. The big right-hander worked 87-90 with his fastball and mixed in an 11/5 breaking ball at 74-76. Chesnutt’s final line read: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 SO, 3 BB.
Game 1 goes to @hocobaseball as they take down Richmond Hill 10-2.#FSU commit ‘21 RHP Brodie Chestnutt goes the distance to pick up the W: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) May 5, 2021
FB: 86-90
CB: 74-78@PBRGeorgia @NathanRode #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/SEXi14x332
Game 2
Needing a win to extend the series, Richmond Hill sent Finley to the mound. Finley came out of the gate throwing 87-90 mph with his fastball and mixing in a slider at 73-75 and changeup at 80-81. While the arm talent of Finley was certainly impressive, the Houston County offense carried over their momentum into the second game.
#UGA commit ‘22 SS/RHP Leighton Finley gets the start for @RH_Wildcat_Base in Game 2. Doing a good job mixing FB/CB. Has surrendered 1 run on a bloop 1B through 2.0 IP.
— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) May 5, 2021
FB: 87-90
CB: 74-75
CH: 81-82
HoCo - 1
Richmond Hill - 0
T3
@PBRGeorgia @ShooterHunt #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/KLPMqbTeW1
The Bears capitalized on mistakes made by Richmond Hill in the field and on the mound throughout the game to run out to a 10-0 lead and run-rule the Wildcats in six innings. The Bears totaled 13 hits.
The real story of the game was the performance of Coleman Willis on the mound. Willis sat 89-92, touching 93 throughout the start. He consistently threw an 12/6 curveball for strikes at 75-77. Willis flashed a changeup at 88, introducing it in the latter innings of the game. For the day, Willis’ line read: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K.
#UGA commit ‘21 RHP Coleman Willis is locked in for @hocobaseball. Going right after hitters, with all 3 pitches, not playing around.
— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) May 5, 2021
FB: 90-92, T93
CB: 75-77
CH: 88
Houston Co. - 2
Richmond Hill - 0
T4
@PBRGeorgia @NathanRode #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/gU63wTEgGX
Houston County advance to the quarterfinals of the GHSA 6A playoffs where they will host East Paulding on Tuesday.
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