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GHSA Playoffs: Calhoun Buzzes Past Villa Rica

April 29, 2021
Phil Kerber
Georgia Scouting Director

Villa Rica, GA - The opening round of the GHSA Class 5A State Playoffs saw the Calhoun Yellow Jackets travel to take on the Villa Rica Wildcats. Calhoun finished as three seed out of Region 7, while Villa Rica entered as the two seed from Region 6.

Both teams sent their aces to the mound with RHP Jacob Marshall (Villa Rica, 2021) getting things started for the Wildcats. Marshall came out of the gate working 80-82 with his fastball and complemented it with a sharp slider. He worked through the first two batters with ease before 1B Andon Lewis (Calhoun; St. Johns River State) drove a liner into center past the diving outfielder for a triple. Marshall regrouped and struck out the next batter to get the Wildcats out of the first unharmed. 

Toeing the rubber for the Yellow Jackets was RHP Hagan Banks (Calhoun; Alabama). The big right-hander came out firing fastballs up to 90 mph, but the Villa Rica offense did not back down. The Wildcats were able to load the bases immediately through a walk and two errors on the infield. C D’Angelo Cruz (Villa Rica, 2021) broke things open with a two run single. Then, 3B Layton Hyneman (Villa Rica, 2024) followed suit with a run scoring line drive single to left. Banks was able to get out of the inning, but the damage was done and Villa Rica led 3-0.


Villa Rica held Calhoun to 3-0 until the fourth inning, when the Yellow Jackets started to gain some momentum back. C/3B Jacob Tolson (Calhoun, 2022) got Calhoun on the board with a solo home run. Banks followed up with a single to keep the pressure on, but nothing would come of it.

The Calhoun offense started to come alive in the fifth. Jake Slaughter (Calhoun, 2022) led things off with a single. A walk by 3B Braden Saunders (Calhoun; Shorter) and a single by Lewis had the Yellow Jackets cooking with one out. Up stepped Tolson once again as he delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to cut the lead to 3-2. Then it was Bank’s turn to help out his own cause. He delivered, lining one through the right-side to tie up the game at 3-3.
The offense kept churning into the sixth inning when the final blow was dealt. Calhoun loaded the bases with one out when Braden Saunders drove a high fly ball into deep right center. The Villa Rica center field tracked the ball, but was unable to come up with the catch as the ball tipped off his glove. The result was two runs came around to score and Calhoun had its first lead of the game.
Now with a 5-3 lead, Banks settled in and looked more determined. He did not allow a ball out of the infield over the final two innings and finished the game with a strikeout looking on a 93 mph fastball. Banks final line read: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 11 K.
Calhoun took game two of the series 2-0 behind a complete game shutout from RHP Bryse Ingle (Calhoun; North Alabama). The Yellow Jackets advance to Round 2 of the GHSA Playoffs where they will take on the one seed out of Region 8, Greenbrier. The Wolfpack are the No. 1 ranked team in our Class 5A Poll and No. 5 team in our Power 25.

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