Joe Morgan | Special to The TimesValwood's Jaharie Boone hits a solo home run during the third inning of Game 1 of a GISA Class 3A state playoff first-round series against Frederica Academy in St. Simons Island on Friday night.

Home runs by Jaharie Boone and JM McRae helped the Valwood baseball team rally, but a seven-run fifth inning by Frederica Academy sunk the Valiants in a 13-7 loss in Game 1 of a GISA Class 3A state playoff first-round series in St. Simons Island on Friday night.

Boone swatted a solo homer across right field in the third inning to tie the game at 1. An inning prior, Cameron Gardner hit a home run to left field to give the Knights the lead.

Frederica pulled ahead 3-1 in the bottom of the third before Valwood rallied again in the fourth.

Tayte Barry scored on a wild pitch and a groundout allowed Sam Martin to tie things at 3.

The Knights took the lead for good in the bottom half of the fourth. Trey Thompson singled to center, scoring a runner before two more scored on a fielding error, making it 6-3.

The Valiants had one last rally in them in the top of the fifth, however.

Barry’s single scored Caleb Burns, and later Mason Williams scored from third after the Valiants drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit to 6-5.

An offensive eruption in the fifth sealed the opening game of the series for the Knights.

They went ahead 9-5 before Gardner capped the scoring with a grand slam.

Valwood outhit the Knights 12-10. Boone, Burns, McRae, Williams and Barry finished with two hits apiece. 

Mac McRae pitched 3 2/3 innings in a start for the Valiants. He allowed five hits and six runs.

Thompson led Frederica at the plate with three hits, two RBIs and a run scored. As the team’s starting pitcher, he gave up eight hits and five runs with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

Gardner had two hits with two runs scored and five RBIs for the Knights. Nic Dixon had two hits and scored a run, and Chandler Kicklighter had two hits, scored two runs and added an RBI.

Valwood looks to even the series in today’s Game 2, scheduled for 11 a.m. If necessary, Game 3 will follow.