The Houston County Bears clinched the Region 2-5A championship Thursday night in Leesburg, Georgia, splitting a high-intensity doubleheader against the Lee County Trojans. Needing just one win to secure the title, the Bears bounced back from a tough game one loss to dominate the nightcap and seal their sixth straight region crown.
Game 1: Back-and-Forth Battle Ends in Lee County Upset
The opener was a thriller from start to finish, featuring multiple lead changes and offensive fireworks from both sides.
Lee County struck first with a 1-0 lead, but Houston County answered to go up 3-1. The Trojans tied it at 3-3, only for the Bears to respond again and take a 5-3 advantage. The momentum continued to swing, with Lee County evening the score at 5-5 before Houston County edged ahead 6-5.
However, Lee County delivered the decisive blow late, scoring three runs to take an 8-6 lead and eventually pulling away for a 10-7 victory, forcing a winner-take-all second game.
Davian Hammonds highlighted the Bears’ effort with a solo home run in the sixth inning, while Peyton Nauss led Houston County with two RBIs.
Game 2: Bears Dominate to Clinch Title
With the region championship on the line, Houston County wasted no time asserting control in game two.
The Bears exploded for six runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back. They extended their lead to 7-1 after two innings and 11-1 after three, cruising to a decisive 13-1 victory in five innings.
Tyson Ganas, Ethan Kenney, Isaiah Galason, and Braylen Taleb each contributed two RBIs to power the offense.
On the mound, Ryan Maxwell and Ja’Khi Wilson combined for a strong performance, allowing just one run over five innings while striking out five batters.
Championship Secured
With the win, Houston County finishes region play at 12-3, earning the No. 1 seed out of Region 2-5A by winning the tiebreaker over Thomas County Central, who also finished 12-3.
The region title marks at least the sixth consecutive championship for the Bears dating back to the post-COVID era. The victory also gives Houston County 20 wins on the season.
Final Region 2-5A Standings
1. Houston County (12-3) – Region Champion
2. Thomas County Central (12-3)
3. Coffee (8-7)
4. Veterans (6-9)
5. Lee County (5-10)
6. Northside (2-13)
What’s Next
Houston County now turns its attention to the final week of the regular season, beginning with a road matchup against Harlem on Monday before preparing for postseason play.
