East Hall’s baseball team is hoping its fortunes have reversed.

The Vikings (6-13, 5-10 Region 7-AAA) most certainly hope the five 1-run loses this season — four of those 1-run loses in Region 7-AAA – are a thing of the past.

East Hall took a positive step in that direction with a 10-7 win over North Hall on Wednesday night at Jody Davis Field.

Leading 6-5, the Vikings plated four runs on three Trojans fielding errors before the first out was recorded in the sixth inning.

“We struggled some out there but the kids on this team are unbelievable and just kept fighting,” East Hall coach John Hardison said. “Everyone on this team fought hard tonight.”

Drew Adams reached base for the Vikings after he was hit by a pitch and Cody Davidson dragged a bunt past the pitcher’s mound to put a pair of runners on base to start the sixth. With two on base, North Hall’s defense made three critical errors that allowed Adams and Davidson to score. East Hall’s Zeb Miller followed with a single to score senior Tracey Gardner.

North Hall (12-7, 9-6) finished the game with four errors in the infield and a two-base fielding error in the outfield.

Wesley Johns led East Hall at the plate with three hits, an RBI and a run scored. Chris Cornett had two singles, two runs scored and reached base in all four at bats.

Jimmy Byers had a leadoff triple in the first inning for the Vikings and scored on a fielding error. Drew Adams, Cody Davidson, Ken Wise, Tracey Gardner and Miller each finished with one hit for East Hall.

“The good thing is that everyone contributed tonight,” Cornett said. “We just got to keep fighting now.”
Miller picked up the win for the Vikings throwing 123 pitches over five innings. He finished with seven strikeouts while surrendering six walks. He also pitched out of a jam twice with the bases loaded in the third and sixth innings by getting the final batter each time to ground out.

Chris Cornett came in to earn the save for the Vikings, allowing only one hit over the final two innings.

“Zeb Miller was the story of the game tonight,” Hardison added. “He was clutch on the mound and was just straight dealing it.”

East Hall needed the four insurance runs it scored in the sixth.

North Hall managed to rally from an early 6-0 deficit to within a single run with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Jake Canipe had the only hit of the inning to put Trojans runners on first and second. North Hall plated its two runs after Taylor Daniels reached base on a throwing error that scored Josh Wright and Canipe.
Canipe finished with three singles and 3 RBIs for North Hall. K.J. McAllister had a double that scored Nathan Strong in the third inning. Josh Haymore and Daniels each added a double for the Trojans.

East Hall plays host to Lumpkin County at 5:30 p.m. on Friday at the East Hall Park. North Hall visits White County at 5:30 p.m. Friday in Cleveland.