The streak is over. After seven straight losses in the Hardee’s Tennessee-Georgia all-star baseball series, Georgia broke through in game No. 8 for a 3-2 win at AT&T Field.
“We were aware of the streak. It gave us a little more will to win,” game MVP Gabe Herman said.
“You have to give all the credit to the kids,” added Dalton coach Bob Brotherton, who was taking his first turn as the Georgia all-stars coach.
Tennessee came very close to extending its victory string, getting the tying and winning runs into scoring position before Zack Phillips flied out to center to end the game.
“We were in good shape there at the end with a good hitter at the plate and the winning run on second,” said McCallie’s Chris Richardson, the Tennessee coach for the third time. “Zach hit the ball well the first two times and he hit that last one right on the screws, but it was right at the center fielder. It goes three or four feet left or right and it’s a different game.”
Phillips, an Arts & Sciences graduate, was 2-for-3 and scored both Tennessee runs. He was outdone, though, by fellow Chattanooga State signee Herman. The Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe standout set a series record with two triples and scored a run, stole a base and batted in a run. His best play, though, came in the bottom of the first when he gunned down Jeremy Bales at the plate on a Phillips single to left.
It was one of two baserunning miscues by Tennessee, which stranded 10 men, six of them in scoring position.
“This wasn’t your typical (Tennessee-Georgia) game,” Richardson said. “It’s usually more of a high-scoring game.”
The combined five runs tied the record for fewest in a game dating back to Tennessee’s 4-1 win in 2004. That game also had been Tennessee’s previous low in runs.
Georgia used a four-pitcher contingent of John Erwin, Josh Mitchell, Gray Hutchinson and Warren Brumlow for the win.
“I thought we were short on pitching and we planned it out,” Brotherton said. “We wanted Erwin to go as long as he could, then Mitchell to go as long as he could, then Hutchinson and the Brumlow.
Model’s Mitchell, who was named Georgia’s outstanding player, picked up the win. He allowed three hits but no runs while striking out five in 3 1/3 innings. Pepperell’s Brumlow got the save.
One of eight pitchers Tennessee used, Hixson’s Andy Duncan, took the loss.
In addition to Phillips, East Ridge’s Gunner Miller had two hits, including a resounding double off the left-field wall that scored the first Tennessee run. It was Miller’s second Tennessee-Georgia event in three nights. After making seven tackles in Saturday’s football win, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football signee was the Tennessee outstanding player in baseball.
The all-star series continues tonight with basketball at Notre Dame. The girls’ game starts at 6 and the boys’ game at 8.
Hardee’s Tennessee-Georgia all-star game
Monday night at AT&T Field
GEORGIA 3, TENNESSEE 2
Georgia 100 200 000 — 3 5 0
Tennessee 101 000 000 — 2 8 1
WP: Josh Mitchell. LP: Andy Duncan. Save: Warren Brumlow. 3B: Gabe Herman 2 (G). 2B: Gunner Miller; Bobby Baskette; Dakota Price (T). Highlights: Herman, 2-3, run, RBI, stolen base (G); Miller 2-2, RBI; Zack Phillips 2-3, 2 runs (T).
