Two early line-drive double plays began what looked to be a grim picture for Warner Robins to start its game against Hardaway. The canvas got much better.

Even though the visiting Hawks got off to a 4-0 lead after one, and loaded the bases to start the seventh, Warner Robins was able to rally and then hold off the visitor in the end for a 7-6 win.

Alex Hvizdzak’s RBI double in the third began the turnaround. That cut the lead to 4-1. A homerun by Justin Ellison – his first of the year – in the top of the fourth pushed it back to four again but it didn’t matter. The Demons had finally managed to turn the corner on Hardaway starter Cedric Brown.

The Demons, aided by two of five errors Hardaway made on the day, scored three in the bottom of the inning and went ahead with two more in the fifth. Kyle Griffin, who went 2-4 with an RBI and run scored, led off that inning with a double. With one out Parker Suggs then sent a fastball over the centerfield fence. The Demons added the key insurance run in the sixth when Dillon Blackwell singled, moved to second on a fielder’s choice and later scored on Griffin’s single. Blackwell finished the day 3-4 with an RBI and the run scored.

Hardaway, as already mentioned, loaded the bases in the seventh. That came via an error, a single and a walk. Nathan Dempsey at shortstop then turned a double play, stepping n the bag and throwing to first, then fielded another grounder cleanly and threw it to Griffin at first for out number three and the ballgame.

Ty Odom went the distance for Warner Robins. He improved to 5-1 while scattering seven hits – the Demons had 10. He walked only one and struck out seven.

The win improved the Demons to 2-2 in the sub-Region 1-AAAA, which is exactly where Head Coach Bill Beatty said he hoped to be before the night was over. That and the hope Houston County would hand Northside its first loss of the year.

It did, beating the Eagles 10-3. That put those two at 3-1 in the sub-Region, Beatty said, and also kept his hope alive of hosting the first round when the region tournament gets here.

As far as the Bears and Eagles, both started off well. Houston County scored three in the first. Northside scored three in the first.

From there, however, it was all Bears, as they went out front for good with two in the second, added one more in the fourth, two in the fifth and one each of the sixth and seventh.

They out-hit the Eagles 11-5 with Hunt Smith getting three of those, Garrett Kline, Hunter Jackson and Trent Jones, two each.

Smith went 3-5 and scored twice. Kline went 2-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Jackson went 2-3 with two runs driven in and Jones went 2-3 with a walk and three runs scored.

Jesus Monserrat and Cam Brigman each had two hits to lead Northside. Monserrat was 2-3 with a run scored. Brigman was 2-4 with a run scored. Hunter Bobbitt also had a homerun for two RBI.

Ace Austin Wallace went all seven innings for Houston County. He walked three and struck out two. The Eagles used three pitchers with starter Cole McArthur taking the loss.