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A's winning woes continue
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Gainesville Pitcher Max Everitt delivers a pitch for the A’s during the third inning of their game with Dawsonville Thursday evening at Ivey-Watson Field. - photo by Scott Rogers | The Times
The Gainesville A’s familiarity with Dawsonville American Legion Post 247 is not a kind one.

The A’s ended their four-game season series winless against their North Region rival after a 9-3 loss Thursday at Ivey-Watson Field.

The loss is Gainesville’s third straight and all have come at home.

“They’ve got our number this year,” A’s coach Clay Haynes said. “For some reason, we just can’t figure out how to beat those guys this year.”

Despite the six-run deficit, Gainesville (8-14) outhit Dawsonville 12-5, but struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

“It’s a lot of little things,” Haynes said. “They pile up.”

Unlike Monday’s game between the two teams, which Dawsonville won 11-1, the A’s stayed close behind their opponent until Dawsonville scored three unanswered runs over the last three innings to secure the win.

The game was tied 1-1 after one inning of play, with Dawsonville’s Blake Sargent and Gainesville’s Bucky Free each scoring RBI singles. Free was 2-for-5 on the night.

Dawsonville added three more runs in the third inning, when Sargent scored Jacob Barr on a sacrifice fly and Derek Henry batted in Austin Lark. Shawn Baker also scored on a wild pitch.

Leadoff hitter Brad Stone’s second run of the game later in the third inning moved the A’s within two runs.

Stone, playing in his first game since participating in the Georgia Dugout Club Top 100 Showcase on Monday and Tuesday, scored all three Gainesville runs and finished the night 3-for-4.

No. 2 hitter Cody Ackerman also finished 3-for-4.

“(Stone) had a good night,” Haynes said. “Cody also had good night. Our one and two hole hitters accounted for most of our runs.”

Dawsonville earned the run back in the fourth inning off Baker’s RBI triple, then added to its lead in the fifth with Sargent’s solo home run that dropped past the right field wall.

Sargent, a Lumpkin County High grad, finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs. Lark had three runs scored on the nights.

Dawsonville added three more runs over the final three innings, two of which were credited to Derek Henry, who scored a run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and batted in a run in the ninth inning. Sargent also scored on a wild pitch in the ninth inning for his second run of the night.

The A’s were silenced offensively by Dawsonville relief pitcher Greg Weaver, who pitched four scoreless innings. Seth Weaver pitched the first five innings, recording the win.

Gainesville continues its home stand against Canton in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Sunday.
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