Altha edges Grand Ridge

The Grand Ridge AAA All-Stars fell in heartbreaking fashion Saturday in Malone, losing 4-3 to Altha in the second round of the District 5 Tournament.

Grand Ridge will now face Chattahoochee Monday at 6 p.m. in an elimination game.

Altha jumped out to a 3-2 lead after scoring three runs in the first inning, saw Grand Ridge tie it up in the fourth, then ended the game with a run in the bottom of the sixth.

It was a tough way to lose, but Grand Ridge coach Larry Joe Harris said he was proud of his team’s effort.

“The guys really played their hearts out,” the coach said.

“We just made some errors in some crucial areas and left too many guys on base. We just couldn’t seem to get them in when we needed to. But it was a great game. It really was.”

Grand Ridge stranded nine runners for the game, missing opportunities to blow the game open.

The bases were loaded for Grand Ridge in the second inning, but the All-Stars weren’t able to push any runs across.

They pushed two across in the top of the first inning on a two-run single by Mason Jackson, who also started on the mound for Grand Ridge.

Altha answered back with three runs in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on Grand Ridge defensive miscues to take the lead.

In the top of the fourth inning, Grand Ridge rallied to tie the game when Jonathan Lombardo picked up a hit, stole to third base and scored on a ground ball by Cade Hewett.

Jackson settled in after the first inning and held Altha scoreless over the next four innings.

However, with his pitch count reaching the 80s, Harris said he had to make a change and brought in Lombardo to pitch the sixth.

“Mason Jackson pitched a heck of a game,” Harris said. “But when you get (to that many pitches), you’ve got to take him out.”

In the bottom of the sixth, Altha scored the winning run on a walk, two stolen bases and a wild pitch to win in dramatic fashion.

Grand Ridge had an opportunity to add runs in the top of the sixth when Lombardo and Hewett reached and made it to second and third with two outs.

However, a strikeout ended the threat and left the game tied.

Harris said he liked his team’s chances Monday night.

“I’m optimistic about the next game,” he said. “I think we’ll do good against Chattahoochee.”