STAFF REPORT
Flowery Branch eliminated Woodland in the first round of the State 5A baseball playoffs on April 25.

Just one Wildcat, Brett Good, recorded a base hit in the contest.

At various points throughout the game, Coby Barrett (one strikeout), Zach Lambert and Julian Wright (two strikeouts) each anchored the pitcher’s mound for Woodland.

The Falcons (21-11) took the best of three series against the Wildcats two games to one.

The Wildcats hosted the Falcons for a doubleheader on April 24.

Flowery Branch won the first game 1-0, in an outing that saw Falcons’ pitcher Mason Compton shut out Woodland’s batters.

Jakiyon Porter had two hits in the loss, while Rowan Billings, Conner Lujan and Connor Stermer each recorded one base hit each.

Pitcher Ayden Ray struck out four batters, while Lambert recorded three strikeouts.

Woodland bounced back in game two, however, defeating Flowery Branch 14-7 in a high-scoring contest.

The Wildcats exploded in the second inning to go up 6-1 over the Falcons; by the start of the fifth inning, Woodland was able to extend the lead to 12-1.

Flowery Branch mustered a mild comeback, ultimately cutting the deficit down to 12-7.

The Wildcats would add two more runs, though, and prevent the visiting team from adding any more points to the scoreboard.

Billings, Chase Carson and Stermer each recorded two RBIs a piece in the win. Also posting at least one RBI in the win were Porter, Mason Williams and Wright.

Austin Daves played for four innings and recorded eight strikeouts. Barrett also had two strikeouts in one inning of play, while Lambert recorded three strikeouts in two innings at the mound.

The Wildcats conclude the 2023 baseball season with a final record of 19-14.