Game Recap: #1 Houston County vs #10 Tift County
April 6, 2023
#10 Tift County traveled to #1 Houston County for one of the biggest region matchups of the year. Both schools are having outstanding seasons, but only 1 can sit at the top of the region heading into the playoffs. The atmosphere matched the hype of the game, and both teams came out swinging.
Sophomores John Davis and Brady Moretz both singled in the first, but were not able to come around to score. Georgia commit, Ryker Chavis got the ball for the Bears. Chavis has been one of the more consistent arms in the state all year. The left handed senior had his usual stuff, a mid-upper 80’s fastball, breaking ball for strikes, and a changeup to keep hitters guessing.
‘24 Brady Moretz (@TIFT_BASEBALL) puts a good swing on one for a 2 out single in the 1st. @PBR_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/IKUlD2gPeC
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) April 4, 2023
‘25 CF John Davis (@TIFT_BASEBALL) stays on the ball up in the zone and drives it the other way.
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) April 4, 2023
2 at bats in and Davis has already impressed. High follow for the ‘25 class. pic.twitter.com/QUzcKA3Sa4
Junior, John Dorman started the game for Tift County on the mound. Standing at 6-foot-3 190-pounds Dorman would need to be on his A game in order to disrupt the Bears line up. He opened up the first with a low 80’s fastball and went right at the top of the order. Drew Burress and Andrew Dunford had back to back singles, but would be stranded after Kai Decker rolled into a 4-6-3 double play.
Chavis had a quick 2nd inning, and turned it back over to the offense. Senior Hunter Chiappetta got things going in the 2nd with a 1 out single. After a passed ball runners were on 2nd and 3rd when Ethan Buffone put down a beautiful bunt down the first base line for a single and RBI. The Bears would plate 2 runs in the 2nd after a throwing error on a potential double play.#WreckHavoc commit ‘23 Drew Burress (@hocobaseball) singles on a 3-2 count.
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) April 4, 2023
‘24 John Dorman gets a 4-6-3 DP the end the inning. pic.twitter.com/hszT1wgyF5
Uncommitted ‘24 2B Hunter Chiappetta (@hocobaseball) shoots one up the middle for a single.
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) April 4, 2023
One of the more solid defenders in the class at 2B. Athletic, moves well and is a key piece in the middle of the Bears order. pic.twitter.com/Maof8RuBWE
Tift County managed a couple singles in the 3rd, but no runs to show for it. They would finally get things going in the 4th inning with a lead off single by Brady Moretz. With runners on 1st and 2nd sophomore Landon Parrish was able to get a bunt down to move the runners over. Mac Brooks managed to get a FB up in the zone, and drive it up the middle to bring home 2 runs and tie the game. Then with 2 outs, freshman Tyler VanSumeren stepped up to the plate with runners in scoring position. He stayed on a fastball on the outer half and drove it over the shortstops head to give Tift County the lead.Textbook bunt with a runner on 3B from ‘25 SS Ethan Buffone to bring in the first run of the game for @hocobaseball
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) April 4, 2023
Love the game play from Buffone. Athletic in all aspects. + defender pic.twitter.com/UtSlgSzuBm
‼️TIE GAME ‼️
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) April 4, 2023
After a SAC bunt by ‘25 Landon Parrish, ‘25 Mac Brooks drives in 2️⃣ to tie it in the 4th.
⚡️ playoff type atmosphere tonight @hocobaseball pic.twitter.com/L3IiXJ2vjA
Houston County answered right back with another Hunter Chiappetta single, and then a double to the wall by Ethan Buffone. ‘22 Future Gamer Eli Stephens then hit a hanging breaking ball to tie the game at 3. That would finish John Dorman’s night on the mound. He battled tough for 3.1 innings, and managed to give his team a chance, and turn the ball over to sophomore Will Pridgen. Pridgen faced a tall task with Drew Burress stepping into the box with bases loaded and 1 out. He ended up walking him to give the Bears the lead, but managed to get these next 2 guys out to give Tift a shot in the 5th.#GoOwls commit ‘26 1B/OF Tyler VanSumeren gives @TIFT_BASEBALL the lead. ‼️
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) April 5, 2023
‘22 JFG’er is one of the top left handed bats in the class. The freshman rises to the occasion in a big game. @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/vYTYDEdCdk
‘25 SS Ethan Buffone (@hocobaseball) has impressed. Has been solid at SS all year, and is getting more and more comfortable in the box. Will be a name to know for the 6A powerhouse. pic.twitter.com/y3ISUXXQnv
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) April 5, 2023
The game would then slowly creep away from Tift when Andrew Dunford cashed in with the infield in and plated 2 runs to give them a 6-3 lead. Tift added a couple singles from Landon Parrish and Luke Ellerbee, but could not manage to get them across. Ryker Chavis entered to hit for himself in the 6th, and came up with a grand slam to seal the win for the Bears.#Mercer commit ‘24 C Eli Stephens ties it with a single to the right side.
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) April 5, 2023
‘22 FG’er is as good as they come behind the plate, and has added some size physically. pic.twitter.com/WLCnYrwVsJ
The takeaways from this south Georgia matchup was that the Tift County line up can hang with the best of them, and will be playoff contenders in a couple weeks time. I will be excited to see the rest of their pitchers in the future. Houston County will continue to be a tough team to beat with their depth on the mound, and consistent line up. Look for both of these teams to make deep playoff runs in 6A.