Raiders drop heartbreaker

The Habersham Central baseball team let one slip away Wednesday night at Raider Park, as Apalachee used a big seventh inning to steal a win from the Raiders.

“Obviously this loss hurts as it would have been big to win the series with Apalachee. To be so close and not come away with the win is tough,” Raiders coach Chris Akridge said. “I was really proud of how our kids competed all night long. Apalachee had some kids come through in the clutch late in the game and they were able to get their best arm on the mound to close it out which was tough for our hitters.”

After conceding a run in the top of the first, Habersham (12-12, 6-7 Region 8-6A) bounced back, pushing across two of its own in the home half of the inning. Mason Dawe tripled on a sharply hit ball to right field, scoring Cooper Shirley.

Konner Burrell got the start on the mound for the Raiders. After giving up a pair of runs early, the junior hurler settled in for what turned into a solid night on the mound. Burrell provided himself some run support with a double in the second that scored Blandon Grizzle and gave Habersham the 3-2 lead.

There wasn’t much noise at the plate for either team throughout the next four innings.

In the top of the seventh, down to their last out and trailing by a run, Apalachee’s TJ Wilson ripped a bases clearing three-RBI double to give the Wildcats a 5-3 lead and ultimately the win.

Habersham will need to muster all it can in the final five region games to make a push for a state playoff spot.

“With the way the region schedule is set up this year, we’ve still got a shot at getting into the playoffs with five region games left,” Akridge said. “Right now we’re just focused on trying to win one game at a time and getting better with each practice. I love this team and believe in this team. Each day that we get to compete together is a blessing and I’m excited about these last two weeks of region play.”

The Raiders will host rival Gainesville on Friday at 5:55 p.m.

– Staff reports