Sports

Lee County, Evans split

• The No. 1-seeded Trojans falter in Game 1 vs. Evans, then rebound to win Game 2 and force a decisive Game 3 today.

Matt Stewart

LEESBURG - Lee County head coach Rob Williams and the Trojans didn't make personal plans for today just in case.

They knew better.

Evans High, which beat Lee County earlier this season, stretched the No. 1-seededTrojans to a decisive third game today with a split Friday in the first round of the Class AAAA baseball state playoffs.

"You'd always like to get it in one night, but whatever it takes," Williams said after watching his team fall in the playoff opener, 5-3, and then rebound with a n8-3 win to force Game 3. "We've been here before."

The final game of the best-of-three series begins at noon today at Lee County High. The winner will face Starr's Mill, which advanced to the second round with a sweep of Northside-Warner Robins Friday in its first round playoff series.

After falling in the opener to Evans, Lee County (19-9) needed a spark to stave off elimination. They got it from lefthanded starter Howell White, who pitched 5 2/3 innings, while limiting Evans to three runs, two earned, on three hits in the Game 2 win.

Howell struck out three and walked eight, struggling with his command at times, but got the outs he needed before the Trojans' offense awoke.

"(White) battled," Williams said. "He never gave in. He kept finding a way to put zeros on the board. He's just a bulldog. It was not an easy night for us, though."

Howell also provided his own offense with a 2-for-4 night at the plate, including three RBIs.

He clung to a 5-3 lead in the top half of the sixth inning of Game 2 when Taylor Howell unloaded on a first-pitch fastball that sailed into the left field trees with two runners on.

"Coach Williams told me if it was a first-pitch fastball, jump on it and I did," said Howell, who went 3-for-7 with four RBIs in Firday's doubleheader. "It worked out for the best."

Lee County lost its first game since April 18 in Game 1, despite getting an early lead on Easton Glover's two-run single in the first inning. Howell singled home another run in the third for a 3-2 Lee County lead, but Evans (15-12, No. 4 seed Region 3-AAAA) tied the game at 3-all in the top of the fourth when Travis Ward scored on a fielding error, one of four Trojans' miscues.

 From that point on, Evans' ace Kevin Millward cruised. He didn't allow another Lee County hit in the final four innings and only three Trojans reached base in that time span.

"He gutted it out and gave us everything he had," Knights' head coach Ricky Beale said of Millward, who threw all seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He also went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs.

Lee County's Gray Carden was the hard luck loser on the mound after striking out nine Evans' hitters in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed five runs, three earned, on 10 hits.

Williams said Carden nor White would likely pitch in today's game for Lee County, the region champions from 1-AAAA. Beale was also undecided on the Knights' Game 3 starter.

"We don't know," he said. "It may be a combination of seven different guys."

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