Grand Ridge prevails in AAA, Ozone

District action continued in Malone Monday evening with games in both AAA and Ozone vying or a district championship.

In AAA action, Grand Ridge topped Chattahoochee 12-2 in four innings to stay alive, after a narrow 4-3 loss to Altha on Saturday.

Grand Ridge sent Dustin Shaw to the mound. He went the distance for the Indians, giving up just the two runs, on no hits and six walks while striking out seven batters.

Grand Ridge scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Johnathan Hayes led off with a walk, and moved to third on a single by Kade Chatwood. Cade Hewett drew a walk, with Mason Jackson taking one for the team to pick up an RBI and keep the bases loaded. With one out, a walk to Harris plated a run. Passed balls allowed two more runs to score before the inning ended on a fly out to short and a strikeout.

Grand Ridge padded their lead in the second inning with five runs. With one out, walks to Jonathan Campbell and Steven Mantecon, followed by a Chatwood single scored two runs. Cade Hewett took one for the team, and a walk to Mason Jackson loaded the bases. Three runs scored on steals and passed balls before two strikeouts ended the inning.

One run scored in the third inning when Johnathan Lombardo reached on an error at short, and stole her way home.

The final run came in the fourth inning, when Chatwood led off with a double and took third on the misplayed ball. A walk to Hewett put runners on the corners, and an error allowed Jackson to reach first and score Chatwood to end the inning on the 10-run mercy rule.

Grand Ridge AAA was scheduled to take on Altha Tuesday night. Results of that game were not available at press time.

In Ozone action, a seventh inning dramatic finish saw Grand Ridge edging out Malone 8-7.

Chris Green started on the mound for Grand Ridge, going three innings before being relieved by Dustin Sneads for 2 2/3 innings. Blake Johnson came in for two-thirds of an inning, with Gage Parker coming on for the final two outs, inducing a double play to end the inning.

Malone sent Antwon “TaTa” Johnson to the mound, who went the distance for the Tigers. Johnson struck out six with two walks issued.

Takota Shaw kept Malone alive in the sixth inning with a bases-loaded, two out, two-RBI single to tie the game.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Cade Hall had a two run home run to tie the game, with Zane Chason following with a single. A. J. Johnson had a walk-off single to score Chason for the winning run.
Grand Ridge was led in offense by Cade Hall, who was 3-for-4, including the home run. Gage Parker was also 3-for-4. Zane Chason and A. J. Johnson were both 2-for-4.

Leading hitters for Malone were Tyler Henry, who was 2-for-2, followed by Jackson Reddish and Matthew Jernigan, who were both 2-for-4. On the board with one hit each were Johnson and Cody Henson.
Grand Ridge and Malone were scheduled to face each other Tuesday night, with Bristol getting the bye until Wednesday. Tuesday night’s winner will face Bristol for the district championship. Results of Tuesday’s game were not available at press time.