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GHSA Playoffs: Callaway Rallies Past Pepperell

May 10, 2021
Phil Kerber
PBR Georgia Scouting Director

Lindale, GA - Pepperell and Callaway clashed on Friday evening in the second round of the GHSA 2A Playoffs. After splitting games one and two on Thursday, this one was for all the marbles, a berth in the Elite Eight.

Pepperell struck first in the bottom of the first inning. The Dragons were able to load the bases following back-to-back walks and a single by OF Landen Loyd (Pepperell; Charleston Southern). Callaway were almost out of the inning unscathed when 2B Gage Owens (Pepperell, 2023) lined a single up the middle, scoring two runs.


RHP Griffin Kanelos (Pepperell, 2021) kept the Cavaliers at bay for three innings, holding onto the 2-0 lead. The top of the fourth started off well for Kanelos, as he struck out the leadoff batter. But a walk, throwing error and bunt single and all of a sudden Callaway had the bases loaded with one out. Kanelos bore down and got the next batter, coming one out away from getting out of the jam. However, 3B Bryce Hubbard (Callaway, 2024) had other plans. The freshman connected on one and drove a shot over the center fielders head for a bases clearing three run double.
Callaway’s 3-2 lead would not last for long though, as the Dragons responded in the bottom of the fourth with three two out runs of their own. Ryan Ely (Pepperell, 2023) gave Pepperell hope in the inning with a two out single. Then OF Chase Gresham (Pepperell; Shorter) doubled into the gap to tie the game at 3-3. Loyd wasted no time trading places with Gresham as he belted his second double of the game. Kanelos would then help his own cause with a bases loaded single. After the dust had settled, Pepperell led 5-3 heading to the fifth.
Pepperell would add another run to their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Loyd got the inning started with his third double, and then would come around to score following a sac bunt and a sac fly by Owens.

Down to their final three outs and trailing 6-3, Callaway had its back against the wall. The inning began with a fly out, but Andrew Locke (Callaway, 2022) gave the Cavs life with a single. Kaden Rogers (Callaway, 2021) followed by taking one for the team and DH Blake Sheppard (Callaway, 2023) singled to load up the bases. Pepperell responded with a strikeout. Down to their final out, Callaway sent pinch hitter Nate Lee (Callaway, 2022) to the plate. The big right-handed hitter delivered a line drive single over shorts head to cut the lead to 6-4.

After Lee, the lineup turned over to OF Creighton Stephens (Callaway, 2023). Stephens skipped a ball up the middle, scoring another run.
Up stepped Hubbard, who already had two hits and three RBI to his name. The left-handed hitter got a pitch he liked and drove it into the left center gap. Hubbard lifted his arm in triumph as he ran down the line and Lee came rumbling around third base, sliding into home head first to give the Cavs a 7-6 lead.
It was all down to RHP Justin Moore (Callaway, 2022) to finish it off. Moore locked in for the final frame and finished off the Dragons himself, getting the final batter to weakly hit a comebacker. Moore fielded the ball, ran to first and flipped the ball to the first baseman for the final out.
Callaway advances to the Elite Eight where they will travel to Thomasville on Monday.

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