VALDOSTA — The Lowndes High Vikings are headed to the second round of state playoffs after a grueling three-game battle with Cherokee that featured tense pitching duels and resilient defense from both teams.

Game One

Game one on Wednesday set the tone for the series. Pitcher Brinson Rountree turned in a strong complete-game performance for the Vikings, allowing just five hits and one earned run while striking out three in a 2-1 win. Rountree looked confident, putting away the visitors without a single walk. Reid Worley pitched five innings for Cherokee, striking out nine but allowing both Lowndes runs on three hits and five walks. 

Lowndes broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning. Noah Burnham reached base on a walk, stole second, then scored on a line drive RBI single from Derrick Carter to right field. In the fifth, Burnham again sparked the offense with a pop-fly RBI single, scoring Matthew Kerrigan and putting the Vikings up 2-0.

Cherokee managed to get a run in the sixth after a bunt single and a fielder’s choice allowed Andre Sweet to score, but Rountree shut the door in the seventh to secure the victory.

Game Two

Following the Vikings’ opener, Cherokee responded with a powerful performance in game two to even the series, taking down Lowndes 6-3.

Garrett Moon struggled on the mound for Lowndes, giving up five runs on five hits and two walks in just three innings. Sammy Ericson earned the win for Cherokee, going 5.2 innings with five strikeouts. Brennan Roth stepped in for relief to end the game.

Cherokee plated five runs in the first three innings, aided by defensive miscues and timely contact. Alex Morales and Brandon Holstein each recorded doubles, while sacrifices and aggressive base running added to the damage. 

Lowndes answered with power of its own —Carter launched two solo home runs, one in the fourth and another in the sixth, accounting for two of the Vikings’ three runs. Westin Hancock added an RBI bunt single in the sixth to bring Lowndes within two, but Cherokee held strong, adding another run in the sixth and stomping out any chance of a Viking comeback.

Game Three

Thursday’s decisive game three was a return to a pitching duel, and Lowndes’ Drew Inman delivered a heroic complete-game performance to guide the Vikings to a 2-1 win and the series victory.

Inman threw all seven innings, allowing just three hits, one run, and three walks while striking out three. The defense rallied together to escape several critical moments, including a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and a two-on situation in the fourth.

Cherokee struck first again, with Collin McGhee doubling and scoring on a groundout from Huddy Will in the first. But just like game one, Lowndes responded quickly. Cason Fletcher doubled and scored on a line-drive single to right field by Coleman Lewis, tying it at 1-1.

The Vikings took the lead for good in the fourth. Heath Davis led off on a double, reached third on a bunt, and scored on Fletcher’s sacrifice fly to center. That RBI proved to be the push the Vikings needed to escape the opening round of the Playoffs.

Lowndes is now preparing for round two against Mill Creek, which is expected to be another intense matchup.