BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Union County scored runs in each of the first three innings, with Jay Cohen’s steal of home in the third eventually proving to be difference in the Tigers’ 6-3 win over third-seed Fort White in the semifinals of the District 6-1A tournament on May 4.
The second-seed Tigers (13-11) play fourth-seed Hilliard for the championship and an automatic berth in the regional playoffs tonight (May 5) in Fort White at 7 p.m. Hillard (18-6) advanced by beating top-seed Lafayette (16-3) 9-2.
Union scored the first three runs, starting with a run in the bottom of the first when Quinten Rawls hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on Jake O’Steen’s ground out and scored on Jay Cohen’s ground out.
Eli Rimes hit a single to lead off the bottom of the second, but was in danger of being left stranded after two straight outs. However, Rimes, who stole second and advanced to third on a Trevor Hotlzendorf ground out, scored on a single by Riggs Davis. Davis would later score on a wild pitch to put the Tigers ahead 3-0.
Fort White (14-5) cut Union’s lead to one in the top of the third. The first two batters of the inning — Lecosta Byrd and Daniel Gonzalez — were hit by pitches. Both scored on Easton Flynn’s ground out to second.
The Indians also had two doubles in the inning they were unable to take advantage of. They were the first two hits given up by Tigers pitcher Luke Johns, who gave up four overall in a complete-game effort. Johns gave up no walks and struck out seven to earn the win.
Cohen and Tre’von Lee, who each finished 2 for 3, hit a double and a single, respectively, to lead off the bottom of the third. Cohen’s steal of home made the score 4-2. Lee scored the Tigers’ fifth run a sacrifice fly by Ayden Elixson.
Johns struck out the first two batters he faced in the fifth, but Fort White scored a run when Flynn, who doubled, scored on a Brad Sullivan single.
Union scored the game’s last run in the sixth. Elixson hit a leadoff double and scored on a double by Blake Agner.
