Franklin Springs, Ga | In games won with small ball and the long ball, Young Harris Baseball continues to find ways to win, this weekend with a series victory over Emmanuel University (Apr 25
th-26
th). YH collectively tallied 25 runs over the weekend, while giving up 12. Several Mountain Lions left this series with multi-hit performances.
The Mountain Lions finish the 2025 regular season with an incredible 37-13 overall record and 22-8 Conference Carolinas record. They will now await postseason seeding, for the tournament to begin next week!
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
Game 1 (9 innings):
- Young Harris made a statement in game one, winning with a final score of 15-3.
- The Mountain Lions jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning, with the power of small ball. Jonny Smith (2) and Mark Castle each knocked in a pair of RBI.
- Emmanuel got on the board in the third after Landon Mokris' RBI single into right field.
- YH threatened on the base paths all evening; in the fifth, Drew Bray's (3-for-4) infield single added a Young Harris run. Then in the sixth, Mark Castle (3-for-5) and Jack Enrico's (1-for-5) efforts at the plate added two more, each recording an RBI.
- The game started to get away from EC in the seventh after Drew Bray scored on an error, Jonny Smith (3-for-5) roped a ball into left center for an RBI double, and Mark Castle slapped a RBI single to left. YH led 12-1.
- The last bit of Mountain Lion scoring occurred in the eighth, where Jeremy Begora (2-for-5) reached on a fielder's choice for an RBI, Kade Smallwood (1-for-3) hit an RBI double to right center, and Marco Colina walked with the bases loaded.
- A hit-by-pitch and RBI single in the bottom of the eighth gave Emmanuel life, but clearly not enough to compete with the Mountain Lion offense this night.
- The YH offense found success in the small ball game, with five doubles on the night.
- Jack Enrico swiped a bag, his first of the season.
- Zach Hart grabbed his eighth win of the year after 6.0 innings pitched, allowing five hits, one run and four walks, while striking out one.
Game 2 (10 innings):
- YH topped Emmanuel with a final score of 7-4, a game that went to extras.
- In this one, the Lions struck first after Landon Mokris sliced an RBI doubled down the left field line. The Lions led 2-0.
- Kade Smallwood (2-for-3) answered in the second with a solo home run himself.
- The remainder of the game went back-and-forth. Drew Bray (2-for-3) tied the game at two in the third inning with an RBI single to center field. Emmanuel kept their bats alive again, as Hayden Beall homered for the go-ahead run.
- On two wild pitches from the EC pitching staff, the Mountain Lions led 4-3 after their half of the fifth.
- Emmanuel continued to hang around, after a fielder's choice tied the game for the third time, this time at four, in the fifth inning.
- A big tenth inning is what sealed the deal for YH. Luke Hatcher (1-for-5) hit an RBI double down the right field line for two, in addition to Jonny Smith (1-for-5) deepening the wound with an RBI single.
- Reliever Brady Caloway was granted the win after a solid 5.0 innings pitched, as he didn't allow any hits or runs, while striking out two.
Game 3 (7 innings):
- YH fell short with potential to sweep, with a final score of 3-5.
- After a scoreless first five innings, a monstrous inning in the sixth for Emmanuel was the difference maker in this one. Nick Madrigal recorded an RBI after reaching on a fielder's choice, followed up by Dobbs Bowden's grand slam to left. EC led 5-0.
- In crunch time, Mark Castle (1-for-3) launched a three-run home run to left field in the bottom of the seventh, however, it ultimately wasn't enough to surpass the five spot the Lions put on the board.
- Graham Edwards goes down with the loss after 6.0 IP, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out seven.
UP NEXT: The Mountain Lions will await news from the Conference Carolinas office for post season seeding for the tournament to begin next week!
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