Page 2B THETHE NORTH NORTH GEORGIA GEORGIA NEWS NEWS March March 20, 201920, 2019

SportsSee the Sports Section at nganews.com : Seventh rally sparks Panther sweep of Monticello By Todd Forrest Sports Editor [email protected]

The Union County Pan- thers cracked the win column in Region 8-AA with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Monticello in game one of a Friday night . Trailing 7-1 in the third, 9-2 in the sixth and 9-3 entering the bottom half of the seventh, Union County rallied for six runs in their final at-bat to force extra , where they pre- vailed on a Zeke Swartz walk- off in the ninth. Riding high on a wave of momentum in game two, the Panthers put five runs on the board in the second inning, en route to a 10-1 victory. Swartz played the role of hero once Senior shortstop/catcher Alec Scott scoops up a ground ball during a Panther baseball game earlier in the Sophomore Zeke Swartz awaits a sign during an early season game. He’s again after getting the nod season. Scott had 4 hits and 3 RBIs during the Monticello twin bill. Photo/Todd Forrest currently sporting an impressive .714 WHIP. Photo/Todd Forrest from head coach Zach Odom position with a one- single Mullinak drove in three as the game two starter. The to center but a pop-out and a during a 2-for-2 game at the sophomore left-hander would sent the game into plate that included a and fan 16 Hurricanes during a the ninth. two walks. Scott went 1-for-2 complete game 4-hitter while After Rich survived a with a , a run, 2 RBIs and lowering his ERA to an anemic pair of walks in the Monticello a pair of walks. 1.00 on the year and upgrading half of the inning, Ivester was Everett and Rich posted his strikeout-to-walk ratio to an plunked to start the bottom of identical stat lines, both going imposing 41-to-4. the ninth. Everett bunted him 2-for-4 with 2 runs and an RBI. Panthers 10, Monti- to second and Mullinak walked Meanwhile, Daniel and Swartz cello 9 (9 Innings) - Swartz and Scott reached on an to each finished 1-for-3 with an knocked in Peyton Ivester load the bases. RBI and Kelly scored once with a base up-the-middle With one down, Swartz during a 1-for-2 game. to complete the Union County lined a single past a drawn-in Younglood walked and comeback in the bottom of the infield to bring Ivester home as scored twice while also steal- ninth on Friday night. the game-winning run. ing a base. The rally, however, got Prior to his 16-K outing Union County dropped underway much earlier when in game two, Swartz would a 5-spot on the Canes in the the Panthers found themselves turn in a 5-hit performance in second after leaving two aboard in a 9-2 hole after giving up game one, finishing 5-for-6 in the first inning. Youngblood two in the sixth. Sophomore with one run and an RBI. Mean- and Daniel each walked and Austin Garrison opened the while, Scott and Garrison each Rich singled to initiate the frame with a single and junior posted career highs with 3 hits second inning onslaught - two Cayden Rich followed with a apiece - both scoring two runs would score on a Mullinak one-out, RBI to trim the and driving in one. Mullinak single then two more came margin to 9-3. finished 1-for-3 with 3 walks, 2 around on Scott’s triple. Swartz After holding the Canes runs and a . Everett capped off the inning by scor- scoreless in the top half of the was 1-for-4 with a walk and 2 ing Scott with a base hit back After opening the season in a slump, Jonathan Everett is hitting .300 over his last three games with 3 RBIs, 2 seventh, Union County explod- RBIs; Daniel, Rich and Young- up the box. runs and 2 walks. He also delivered a game-tying 2-run double in game one vs Monticello. Photo/Todd Forrest ed for six in the bottom half. blood all drove in one during Everett singled and later Three consecutive singles by 1-for-4 performances. Hunter scored on a wild to make Issac Mullinak, Alec Scott and Kelly walked and knocked in it a 6-0 game in the fourth. He Swartz had the Panthers within one, Ivester scored twice and would also single and score five at 9-4. With one down, JJ Littles stole a base. during Union’s two-run fifth Garrison made it a 9-5 game On the mound, Rich that opened up an 8-0 advan- with an RBI single, then Alec picked up his second relief win tage. Youngblood brought home of the year, working 2 innings, Monticello got on the one with a sacrifice fly. Rich striking out five and yielding board in the sixth with a lead followed by drawing a two-out one hit. off double and an RBI single. walk allowing senior Coleson Mullinak got the start and The Panthers would tack on Daniel to bring Union within lasted 2 innings after giving up two more in the bottom half two on a run-scoring single to 3 hits, 5 walks, 2 hit batters and of the inning on RBI singles left. With Ivester pinch-running 6 runs (5 earned). Ean Harkins from Rich and Daniel - scor- for Daniel, senior Jonathan Ev- worked 5 innings of long relief, ing Youngblood and Kelley, erett smacked a two-run double allowing 3 unearned runs on 5 who both reached via a base to center, scoring Ivester and walks and 2 hits. The senior on balls. knotting the score at 9-9. southpaw would also record 8 Up next for Union Coun- Rich took the mound . ty is a trip to defending Region in the eighth and struck out Panthers 10, Monti- Champion Elbert County on the side after surrendering a cello 1 - The Union County of- Friday. Game one is scheduled lead off single. The Panthers fense provided Swartz 10 runs to begin at 5 p.m. with game also wasted a leadoff single of of support but he didn’t need two to follow. their own in the bottom half of it as he recorded a career-high (UC box scores from the the inning. Swartz opened the 16 strikeouts while working Monticello games located on frame with a base hit, then Gar- 7 innings for the second time Page 3B.) rison moved him into scoring this month.

Sophomore Issac Mullinak reached base eight times in 10 plate appearances during Friday’s doubleheader. He also drove in 3 runs, scored 3 times and stole his team-leading sixth base of the year. Photo/Todd Forrest Track and field: Allie Brey sets new 400-meter school record at Stephens County

Allie Brey - Union County’s new 400M school record holder TOCCOA - Despite clocked in at 1:06 in the 400- and 3200M races. punching above their weight meter, setting a new school re- Union will race local- class once again, Union County cord with her first place finish. ly this week when they visit more than held its own at Class Luke Gambrell was first Fannin on Tuesday. Action is AAAA’s Stephens County last in the 3200M and Hunter Hart- scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. week. zog set the pace in the 800M On Friday they will visit Competing against Ste- and 1600M events. Habersham Central for a 3:30 phens and Class AAA Franklin Also placing first was ju- p.m. start. Union County baseball season totals (through March 15 vs Monticello). Hitting (top) and pitching (bottom). County, freshman Allie Brey nior Zoe Sanchez in the 1600M