CALHOUN, Ga. — If the Calhoun Yellow Jackets were flying under the radar heading into the GHSA Class AA baseball playoffs, Friday’s first-round sweep of Heard County by identical 12-0 scores could change all that.

The Jackets (26-2) were ranked No. 7 heading into postseason play in the final regular-season coaches’ poll. After dismantling the Braves (16-12) in two five-inning routs, at least one Jacket believes the word just may get out.

“I think, if we came in under the radar, we’re out now,” said senior second baseman Tre Lamb, whose three-hit, five-RBI, three-run evening was typical of several Calhoun players. “Maybe this will send a message to everybody that we’re back and we’re ready to play.”

Calhoun will host The Lovett School in a doubleheader Wednesday in round two.

In addition to Lamb, who muscled up for his third homer of the season in the finale, Jeremy King had four hits, an RBI and four runs scored; Zach Bradley had four hits, and RBI and a run, and Jordan Poole and Brad Moss belted two-run homers. It was more evidence that this edition of the Jackets is more adept at putting the ball in play than recent teams, which relied heavily on the long ball.

“That’s right. This year our goal each game is to make productive outs when we do get out and put the ball in play,” Lamb said. “We want to do anything we can to help the team.”

The hitting was just part of the story. Sophomore starting pitchers Carter Harrison and Christian Holden combined to allow seven hits in their 10 innings of work. Harrison improved to 11-0 with a two-hit, 10-strikeout gem; Holden, pitching in place of injured Jarrett Didrick, ran his record to 5-0 in game two by throwing and letting his defense work. That defense committed one error on the day (by Harrison) while turning two double plays.

“That was a pretty good opening performance,” Calhoun coach Chip Henderson said. “This is no knock on Heard County — they’re a scrappy bunch — but we know it’s going to get tougher from here. We’ve got to get in a mindset where we realize that.

“I thought our pitchers were big for us tonight. That’s a tough spot to put two sophomores, but they came through. And we swung the bats well, with some timely hits. We took advantage of some mistakes on their part as well. I’m real pleased with the way we came out tonight.”

The Braves’ evening didn’t start any better than it ended. Wesley Gannon was slated to start game one on the mound, but he couldn’t get loose, so ace Clint Lowery, who was going to start game two, stepped in. However, after he retired Lamb to start the game, Gannon replaced him. The two were part of a six-man effort in game one that totaled eight wild pitches/passed balls, seven walks and three hit batters.

The Braves also lost their top hitter, Clay Holtzclaw, for both games when he was hit by a Harrison fastball in the elbow during his first at-bat.

n Class A: Gordon Lee defeated host Lakeview Academy in both its games, 14-13 and 18-17. Taylor Pace’s two-run walk-off triple in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the Trojans the win in game two. Three batters before, Brandon Daggett was hit by a pitch and replaced at first by pinch runner Nick Elliott. Elliott stole second and Brad Culbreth walked, and both came home went Pace sent an 0-2 pitch over the pitcher’s head.

Gordon Lee advances to the second round Wednesday. The Trojans will play in Augusta against top-ranked Aquinas. Also in Class A on Friday, Trion lost 10-0 and 18-0 at Jefferson.