Region 1-4A: Smith homer decider in Rutherford loss

CRAWFORDVILLE — Conner Smith hit a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the first inning that would prove to be all the run support Wakulla’s pitchers needed as the War Eagles defeated Rutherford 1-0 in the Region 1-4A semifinals on Friday.

“(It was a) rollercoaster,” Wakulla head coach Mike Gauger said. “We hit the solo home run in the bottom of the first so you’re excited, and then the rest of the time you’re just stressed trying to see if one run is going to hold.”

It was the fourth meeting this season between the War Eagles and the Rams with Rutherford (22-6) winning the first two in the regular season and Wakulla taking the district championship and the regional semifinal.

“I think in the beginning of the season against them we weren’t very intense,” Wakulla senior Ryan Zimba said. “We weren’t wanting to play, we just played. Sometimes we didn’t show up. So I think in these playoffs that we’ve showed up every time and left everything we’ve had on the field.”

Zimba (4-5) went the first five innings to pick up the win. He struck out eight and walked just one while allowing five hits. Sophomore Jake Walker came in and battled through two tough innings to pick up his second save of the season.

“Smith, a junior, was 1 for 2 with a solo home run to provide the only the run of the game. Jordan Montague, Dalton Dugger, and Brandon Nichols each had a hit for the War Eagles, who were out-hit 8-4 by the Rams.

Rutherford stranded 11 baserunners in a frustrating end to its season.

“It was ridiculous, we had a million chances to score and found a way not to score every time,” Rutherford coach Jon Hudson said.

The Rams left the bases loaded in the third and sixth, and had runners on first and third in the seventh.

The absence of clutch hitting wasted a strong performance from Rutherford starter Jesse Pace. He allowed three hits five innings, Dakota Spikes pitching the sixth for the Rams.

 Wakulla will travel to Jacksonville on Friday to take on Bishop Kenny for the Region 1-4A championship.