From Staff Reports
They’ve met two times this season on neutral fields. Now, the Westfield vs. Deerfield-Windsor baseball rivalry will have more meaning in the 2013 season.
Not in the same region, the Hornets and Knights only played in tournaments held in Macon and St. Simons Island. But on Saturday, they square off in a doubleheader to determine who will advance in the GISA AAA playoffs.
As Region 2-AAA champions, Westfield and Rob Fitzpatrick will host Deerfield-Windsor for two games Saturday. If a third game is needed, it will take place Monday. The Knights placed second to Tiftarea in Region 3-AAA this season.
Westfield’s state baseball championship in the 2011 season came at the expense of the Knights, who not only lost the best-of-3 finals but also the region top seed to the Hornets that season.
The first step in Westfield’s quest for a third straight finals berth was completed this past weekend with a two-game sweep of Augusta Prep. Garrett Brown and Gehrig Broxton each pitched a complete game, each getting six runs of support in finals of 6-2 Friday and 6-0 Saturday.
Augusta Prep only scored in the fifth inning of Game 1, but it cut what was a 4-0 Hornet lead down in half. Westfield got those runs back scoring one in the fifth and one in the sixth.
In all, the home team offense had 10 hits, two each from Barrett Stanley, Brown and Wayne O’Neal, all seniors. O’Neal belted a home run and a double to gain three RBI.
Brown, who also drove in one run, struck out seven batters in seven full innings. His only blemish among the six hits allowed was a two-run home run by Augusta pitcher Michael Downing.
Broxton pitched a three-hitter to shut down the Cavaliers Saturday. The game was scoreless until the fourth inning, and then O’Neal hit his second home run to go with a single and two RBI. Also, Beau Holcomb doubled for an RBI while Broxton and Dustin Hall each had two hits.
On the mound, Broxton fanned four hitters and did not issue a walk. For both games, the Hornet defense had no errors.
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