The Bleckley Co Royals hosted Fitzgerald in a doubleheader in the Sweet Sixteen in the battle of purple teams and the result was a Bleckley Co Sweep.. winning Game One 2-1 and winning Game Two 3-0 in nine innings. Game One was tight throughout as Fitzgerald plated the game’s first run in the top of the third to lead 1-0.
The Royals would tie the game in the last of the fourth when Austin Yourn hit an rbi double to drive in Gavin Cole however.. Yourn would be out advancing to third. The game would remain tied all the way to the last of the seventh and that is when Walker Boatright hit a walk-off rbi single to drive in Jay Johnson and give the host a 2-1 victory in Game One.
SP for Bleckley Co Braegan Cravey pitched a complete game.. surrendering one earned run on three hits, walking three, and striking out nine. Game Two would be another pitcher’s duel as both teams would go all the way into the ninth inning tied at 0 a piece.
Gavin Cole would finally break the ice in the top of the ninth by hitting a two-rbi double to drive in Walker Boatright and Casey Finch to make the score 2-0 Royals. Clayton Beck would hit a sac-fly to right to drive in Gavin Cole to make the score 3-0 Bleckley Co going into the last of the ninth. The Purple Hurricane were able to bring the tying run up to bat but would strikeout to end the game and the series.
Royals’ SP Clayton Beck pitched all nine innings and surrendered no runs on two hits, walking two, and striking out 10 while pitching 115 pitches. Bleckley Co improves to 24-9 on the season and will travel to take on Pepperell in the Elite Eight next Wednesday while Fitzgerald ends 2025 at 18-17 overall.
