The Flowery Branch baseball team opened region play with a 10-7 win against Gainesville on Thursday in Flowery Branch.
The Falcons (2-0, 1-0 Region 7-AAA) scored six their runs in the first three innings to take an early lead.
Gainesville took a one-run lead in the fifth inning, but Flowery Branch answered with four runs of its own to secure the win.
Jimmy Fitzgerald, Cory Sanderson and Bucky Free each had two hits for the Falcons. Brad Stone was walked in every at-bat and scored four runs.
Matt Pilgrim earned the win for Flowery Branch.
Sloan Strickland led Gainesville (0-2) with two hits.
Flowery Branch plays host to Lumpkin County at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Gainesville plays host to West Forsyth at 5:55 p.m. Monday.
Jackson County 11, Oglethorpe County 6
Pitcher Larry Evans entered the game in fifth inning for the Panthers and struck out seven hitters to hold off Oglethorpe County on Thursday in Lexington.
Cody Elrod was 3-for-5 at the plate for Jackson County (1-1). Rob Williams, John Florentine and Zach Stichler each had two hits. Kelly Moates had three RBIs.
Austin Robinson picked up the win for the Panthers, pitching four innings with six strikeouts.
Jackson County visits Rabun County at 2 p.m. Saturday.
SOCCER
Johnson girls 3, Dawson County 0
Bethany Johnson, Jessica McClure and Kayla Madsen each scored as the Lady Knights blanked its third straight opponent Thursday in Oakwood.
Anna Contreras tallied two assists for Johnson (4-0). Joanna Madrigal also assisted on a goal.
Cat Pinchen made 11 saves in goal for the shutout.
Johnson visits West Forsyth at 5:55 p.m. Tuesday. Dawson County (2-2-1) plays host to Creekview at 5 p.m. today.
GOLF
Flowery Branch 165, East Hall 204
Garnett Gentry and Ben Yu each shot a 39 to lead the Falcons on Thursday at Chicopee Woods Golf Course.
Flowery Branch faces Johnson at 4 p.m. Thursday at Royal Lakes Golf Course in Flowery Branch.
East Hall returns to Chicopee Woods at 4 p.m. Thursday against Chestatee.
Roswell boys 144, Lumpkin County 148
The Indians set a school record in team scoring, but were unable to edge Class AAAAA opponent Roswell on Thursday at Achasta Golf Course in Dahlonega.
Aaron Georgia shot a 34 for Lumpkin County (1-1). Cody Fleming carded a 37, Austin Booker had a 38 and Ben Jarrard shot a 39.
Michael Walters led Roswell with a 34.
Lumpkin County plays host to North Forsyth at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday at Achasta.
TENNIS
Chestatee girls 5, White County 0
Amy Werner, Christine Mitchell and Allison Wedegis each picked up singles wins for the Lady War Eagles on Thursday at Chestatee High.
The team of Emily Elder and Sarah Beth Tankersley and the team of Carly Dale and Logan Camp completed the sweep in doubles for Chestatee (2-3, 1-3 Region 7-AAA).
Chestatee plays host to Pickens at 4 p.m. Monday. White County visits Gilmer at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Riverside Military 3, Flowery Branch 2
The Eagles swept singles matches, with Andres Osegueda, Tom Kerekes and Joe Kowalski each winning in straight sets Thursday in Flowery Branch.
Flowery Branch returned the favor in doubles, with overtime wins from the team of Luke Smith and Coulter Burch and the team of Gary Reed and Jake Jacobs.
Riverside plays host to Chestatee at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Flowery Branch (0-3) plays host to Johnson at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
TRACK AND FIELD
North Hall opens track season with win (Wednesday)
The North Hall High track and field team won a three-team meet on Wednesday at Riverside Military Academy.
The Trojans’ 75 points finished ahead of Riverside’s 61 and Banks County’s 33.
North Hall had eight first places finishes: Peyton Wilhoite in the discus, Nolan Clark won the 3200-meter, Ty McCormack in the 1600, Travis McEnaney in the 400, Jordan Chaffin in the 100 and Brandon Lawson in the 800. The 4x100 team of Chaffin, Wilhoite, Ben Satterfield and Ben Booth and the 4x400 team of Lawson, Chaffin, McEnaney and Luis Gonzalez also won their events.
Second place finishers for North Hall were Zach Bradley in the pole vault, Jacob Fortner in the triple jump, Reese Walker in the 1600, Gonzalez in the 800 and Cody Barger in the 3200.
First place finishes for Riverside included Hyung Oh in the 110-meter hurdles, Adrian Quinones in the triple jump, Sebastian Mims in the pole vault and a tie between Logan Clemens and Aaron Gambrah in the shot put.
The Eagles’ second place finishers included Marlon Veazie in the 100 and 200, Brad Baker in the 200, Zack Anderson in the 300 hurdles, Jack Bouchard in the long jump and Gambrah in the discus. The 4x100 team of Gambrah, Mims, Veazie Victor Frick also finished second for the Eagles.
Finishing third for Riverside was Frick in the 100 and John Collins in high jump. Colton Keig finished fourth in the discus and Baker placed fourth in the 400. Fernando Osegueda-Weiner finished fifth in the 800.
Riverside faces Gainesville and Chestatee at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
RIFLERY
Gainesville shooters head to Area Championships (Wednesday)
The Gainesville High rifle team advance to the Area 6 Championships with a 1,111-928 win against North Springs on Wednesday.
Lauren Weaver led the Red Elephants with a 284. Todderick Williams shot a 278, Chris Hernandez had a 276 and Alex Uscanga had a 273.
Gainesville will try to win its first Area Championship in school history Wednesday at Parkview High. The top five teams will advance to state playoffs.
High school results may be reported by 10:30 p.m. by calling 770-718-3406, e-mail sports@gainesvilletimes.com. Results reported after deadline will appear in the following day's paper.