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GHSA Playoffs: Cadets March On To 4A State Finals

May 18, 2021
Phil Kerber
Georgia Scouting Director

Bogart, GA - One of the most anticipated matchups of the entire GHSA Playoffs pitted the North Oconee Titans against the Benedictine Cadets. It was a battle of two of 4A’s best and two of the top 2021 MLB Draft prospects in the state, RHP/SS Bubba Chandler (North Oconee; Clemson) and LHP/1B Carter Holton (Benedictine; Vanderbilt).

Game 1

North Oconee sent Chandler to the mound for game one, while Benedictine opted to save Holton for game two. Chandler came out firing his fastball up to 95 mph, and did not allow a single ball in play in the first, striking out three batters and hitting another two.

On the other side, RHP Trent Marikton (Benedictine, 2021) made quick work of the Titans in the first, sending them down in order. The second inning was a different story. C Cale Stricklin (North Oconee, 2023) reached via an error, then DH Braeden Smith (North Oconee, 2022) came up with a double in the gap to give the Titans second and third with one out. Stricklin would come around to score on a passed ball. SS Justin Byrd (North Oconee, 2022) brought Smith in to score with a groundout to short.

North Oconee continued to swing it. 3B Grayson Godbee (North Oconee, 2023) got the Titans rolling again with a single. OF David Wiley (North Oconee; Wofford) would drive Godbee in on an infield single to give the Titans a 3-0 lead at the conclusion of the second inning.
Things would go quiet until the fourth inning, when it was Holton’s third time facing Chandler. Prior to that, the Cadets were able to load the bases with two outs thanks to a dropped third strike, a single, and a walk. As they say, third time's the charm. Holton saw a high fastball and sent a missile into the gap for a bases clearing three run double, tying the game at 3-3.
Benedictine seized the momentum swing and started to put more and more pressure on the Titans. It would be none other than Carter Holton who delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning. The Cadets would chase Chandler from the game in the inning, and add to their lead. With the bases loaded, DH Will Walker (Benedictine, 2021) drove in two more runs with a single, but the third runner was thrown out at home, ending the inning. But, Benedcitine had taken a 6-3 lead.
Down to their final three outs in the seventh inning, North Oconee mounted a rally. A solo home run by Phillip Ard (North Oconee; Georgia Southern) cut the lead to 6-4. A walk by Gavin Black (North Oconee, 2022) and an error on a Stricklin groundball put the winning run at the plate with one out. Smith would fly out, putting the Cadets one out away. However, Byrd had other ideas as he cut the lead to 6-5 with an RBI single.
The rally would stop there though, as OF/RHP Justin Thomas (Benedictine; Georgia) would get Godbee to fly out and secure the victory.

Game Two

North Oconee had its backs against the walls entering game two, having spent Chandler and looking at Holton on the mound. It was a tall task ahead of them.

The way Holton started the game, it was going to be a long day for the Titans. Holton came out in the first, touching 94 with his fastball and throwing a sharp curveball that was consistently getting swings and misses.

The Cadets came ready to swing it game two. Holton led off with a single and SS Kameron Edge (Benedictine, 2022) followed with a single into right field. A walk by 3B Parker McCoy (Benedictine, 2024) would make it bases loaded with one out. Holton would score the first run of the game on a passed ball. Then C Cody Cowan (Benedictine, 2021) would bring Edge and McCoy in with a single to left field.
Now pitching with a 3-0 lead, Holton was simply dominant, and the lead would continue to grow for the Cadets. A series of errors in the third inning would allow Edge to score from first on a ground ball to short and Thomas would make it all the way to third. Two more runs would come in the fourth inning. The Cadets started the inning with three consecutive singles, before an out was made. Then a walk to Edge and a single by Thomas off center field wall would increase the lead to 6-0.
The offensive onslaught continued into the fifth inning for the Cadets. A double by Walker and a single by Cowan started the inning off. The Titans beared down though and got the next two batters out with no runs coming across. But, another error hampered them and Benedictine capitalized, bringing another run in and extending the inning. With first base open, North Oconee opted to walk Holton. Edge was able to draw a walk as another run scored. Then, already swinging a hot bat, Thomas singled into center field to make it 9-0.
The first hit of the game for North Oconee would not come until there were two outs in the sixth inning. Chandler broke up Holton’s no-hit bid with a single. But that would be it from the Titan offense. In the end, Holton would go 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 14 K as the Cadets punched the ticket to the State Championship.
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