Houston County covers all three phases when it counts, takes down Pope in two for the Class 6A state title (first edition)
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By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Bears know how to dogpile.
Houston County got a complete game from Ryker Chavis in the opener and then clutch work on the hill from Andrew Dunford and Drew Burress in the nightcap to go with timely hitting in both games for an 8-3, 7-4 sweep of Pope for the 2023 GHSA Class 6A state championship.
Houston County has eyes on the state baseball championship prize
Come back for more coverage in the morning.
The Bears won their second title in three years and fourth since 2014, doing so on the Coolray Field turf, home to the Gwinnett Stripers, the Class AAA team of the Atlanta Braves.
Houston County (36-6) played two games that would please that big-league team, starting with pitching.
Chavis survived a leadoff triple, and another one a few innings later, keeping Pope mostly in check throughout the opener, shutting the door when the Greyhounds saw an opening in a three-run sixth.
Burress and Kai Decker each had two hits for Houston County, Burress with two RBI and Decker with three.
The nightcap started to take on a similar feel, Houston County leading 4-1 after four and 5-2 after five.
The lead was 7-2 when Pope started making noise again, ending the night for starter Dunford in the sixth. On came Burress, who shut the door after an outfield error led to a second run in the inning.
Burress went into rare extra duty, throwing a second inning. No tired arm issues. He needed only 12 pitches to finish off the defending 6A champs and inspire the pileup between the mound and first.
Dunford went 4 for 4 with two RBI, the Bears getting two-hit games form Burress and Hunter Chiappetta.
Dunford was 5 for 7 with four RBI and two runs in the doubleheader, with Burress 4 for 7 with three RBI and three runs, Decker adding a 3-for-7 day and three RBI.
The Bears scored eight runs on seven hits in the opener, and seven runs on 13 hits in the nightcap. Houston County pitchers Chavis, Dunford, and Burress gave up 12 hits, seven earned runs, and three walks, with 15 strikeouts in two games.