TIFTON — MaxPreps’ initial rankings rate the Tift County Blue Devils the No. 7 team in the state and the No. 4 team in Class 6A. The Devils won a 10-0, five-inning contest from Valdosta Tuesday in the Region 1-6A opener, looking very tough in the process.

Valdosta will have a chance at revenge Friday in a home doubleheader. Game one begins at 4:30 p.m.

Sophomore hurler Tanner Day was able to hold Tift to two runs through three innings, but the Blue Devils sent 10 men to the plate in the fourth and walked off the 10-0 victory in the fifth.

Stephen Little had two hits for the Wildcats, the only two surrendered by TCHS’ John Davis.

Tyler VanSumeren and Landon Parrish scored the initial two runs in the second frame, courtesy of an RBI single by Mason Grist and a sac fly by Walker Brannen.

Valdosta got through the third unscathed. Little doubled with two down in the fourth and stole third, but was left stranded.

Tift had its big fourth. Davis had a stand-up triple that plated two and the first seven batters reached base. Parrish delivered courtesy runner Brodie Law and Mac Brooks before using his legs to force an errant throw to bring home VanSumeren to make it 8-0.

Josh Tanner shut down the Devils there to end the inning, recording three straight outs.

A miscue in the fifth put Jack Steedely aboard with one down and Turner Samples was hit with two outs. Davis got a strikeout to escape unscathed.

Tift walked it off in the fifth on a two-run single by VanSumeren.

Valdosta dropped to 7-4 with the loss.

The opening night of region additionally saw Lowndes edge Richmond Hill, 3-2, and Colquitt County blow out Camden County, 11-0. Colquitt’s game was also a run-rule.