VALDOSTA — Two days and three games of Lowndes-Valdosta baseball highlight the last week of the Region 1-7A schedule.
The Wildcats host the Vikings Tuesday at 6 p.m., then travel to Lowndes for a Friday doubleheader that begins at 4:30 p.m.
Each team has plenty at stake. Lowndes is in the driver’s seat for the region title at 8-1. Valdosta is at the bottom of the standings at 2-7, but could make the state tournament on a sweep.
Richmond Hill, which is 6-3 in region play, will be pulling for VHS. The coastal Wildcats have Colquitt County this week, in Moultrie Tuesday and at home for the doubleheader.
Colquitt has their own hopes and dreams. At 4-5, the Packers cannot win the region flag, but could earn a first round state series at home by winning all three from Richmond Hill. Should the Pack do poorly and be swept, that opens the door for Valdosta to slip in the state playoffs if the ‘Cats can win all three over Lowndes.
In between is Camden County, which finished up region last week at 4-8. If Valdosta and Colquitt have good weeks, Camden could be the odd team out.
Valdosta’s road to state grew more difficult after the team dropped all three to Richmond Hill last week. Scores were 5-1, 10-8 and 8-4.
Alex Wilson homered in the first game of the doubleheader and VHS had an 8-7 lead going into the sixth inning before Richmond Hill rallied. The finale saw the ‘Cats held to three hits, though Andre Mason drove in two.
Skyler Howell had two hits in the series opener.
Lowndes won their 20th game Friday in the nightcap of their doubleheader against Camden. The Vikings won all three games in the series, 3-0, 14-1 and 14-4.
The nightcap saw the Vikes pound out 14 hits, with three-hit nights for Cason Fletcher, Matthew Kerrigan and Carson Page. Coleman Lewis drove in three as Lowndes torched Camden for 10 runs over the final three frames.
Tate Sirmans as a double short of the cycle in the opener, leading off the game with a long ball. Nate Slaughter drove in five.
Both schools have non-region games to close out the regular season next week.