Valdosta needs strong finish to make state

Published 3:00 pm Monday, April 1, 2024

VALDOSTA — The Valdosta Wildcats will need a strong two weeks to increase their chances of making the Class 7A state baseball playoffs.

Valdosta enters the week in fifth place in Region 1-7A after falling twice to Colquitt County last Friday, dropping their conference record to 2-4.

Lowndes remains on top in 1-7A at 5-1. After a week’s break from region battles, the Vikings host Camden County on Tuesday at 6 p.m. They have a doubleheader at Kingsland Friday.

Colquitt and Camden are both 4-5, with Richmond Hill at 3-3.

VHS’ remaining series are against Richmond Hill and Lowndes. They travel to the former Tuesday before a Friday home doubleheader.

A day after taking over as head coach, Chance Pitts directed the Packers to a pair of victories over Valdosta, 16-6 and 4-3.

Colquitt leapt out to six runs in the first. The ‘Cats countered with five in the third before the Colquitt took off again.

Andre Mason drove in two VHS runs on a double and had two hits for the game. Braeden Lampkin, Om Patel and Hayden Coats also picked up RBIs.

Colquitt walked off the second game, scoring two runs in the seventh on back-to-back hits. All three of Valdosta’s tallies had come in the second.

Two errors in the second brought in Lampkin and Patel before Skyler Howell drove in Stephen Little.

Mason struck out five in five innings of work.

Elsewhere in the region last week, Camden won its series against Richmond Hill, 2-1. The teams split the doubleheader, RHHS earning a 14-0 victory before Camden turned the tables, 6-1.