The Houston County Bears opened their 2026 state playoff run in dominant fashion, sweeping the Lassiter Trojans in a first-round doubleheader and punching their ticket to the Sweet 16.
Game 1: Offensive Explosion Seals Run-Rule Win
Houston County set the tone early, building a 2-0 lead through the second and third innings before Lassiter answered with a run in the fourth. The game shifted decisively in the bottom of the fifth when Raymond Byrd delivered an RBI single to extend the lead to 3-1. Moments later, senior Noah Odom broke things open with a three-run home run to left, pushing the advantage to 6-1.
The Bears kept pouring it on in the sixth. Davian Hammonds added a two-run blast, and Ethan Kenney capped the scoring with a two-RBI single to secure an 11-1 run-rule victory in six innings. Odom and Kenney each drove in three runs, while starting pitcher Tyson Ganas went the distance, allowing just one run on three hits with seven strikeouts.
Game 2: Kenney Leads on the Mound and at the Plate
The second game proved more competitive early, but Houston County again took control. As the visiting team, the Bears plated four runs in the top of the second inning, which ultimately held up down the stretch. Lassiter threatened in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases with no outs, but Houston County limited the damage to just one run.
Ethan Kenney, starting on the mound, delivered a standout performance. He helped his own cause in the fifth inning with a solo home run to extend the lead to 5-1. Lassiter added a late run in the seventh, aided by an interference call, but the Bears closed it out with a flyout to secure a 5-2 win and complete the sweep.
Kenney finished with four RBIs across the doubleheader and was dominant in Game 2, tossing a complete game with 10 strikeouts, no walks, and just two runs allowed on 107 pitches, 3 shy of the maximum of pitches a pitcher can throw in a single GHSA game.
Looking Ahead
With the sweep, Houston County improves to 24-7 and advances to the Sweet 16. The Bears will host the Newnan Cougars next weekend in a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s 5A state championship series, setting the stage for one of the most compelling matchups of the postseason.
