Predictable mixed with the unpredictable last week when South Effingham and Effingham County met in a three-game series.
Predictably, the experienced Mustangs flexed muscle in two wins, 13-3 and 7-0. But sandwiched between the victories came an unpredictable five-run rally by the Rebels in the bottom of the seventh to give ECHS a 8-7 win in Game 2.
“It’s what makes the Effingham County-South Effingham rivalry fun and nerve-racking at the same time,” Rebels coach Brett Griffin said.
When the ashes lifted from the cross-county series, South Effingham (8-5, 5-1 Region 3-AAAAA) remained in contention for the regular-season region crown.
The Mustangs began a key three-game set with defending region champ Richmond Hill last Monday with Games 2 and 3 today and Friday.
Gritty Effingham County (9-5, 2-4 Region 3-AAAAA) continues its tough slate with Statesboro this week. Game 1 was last Monday with Games 2 and 3 today and Friday.
But few county baseball fans will forget this year’s rivalry series between the Effinghams.
“My blood was pumping,” said South Effingham pitcher Davis Hare, who took the mound in Game 3 against the Rebels. “It’s pretty much like fighting with your little brother.”
Hare turned in a dominant performance Friday night, striking out eight and scattering four hits in the Mustangs’ 7-0 win.
For South Effingham, it was a much-needed reversal from a Wednesday to forget. The Mustangs, who had four straight games by 10 or more runs, took a 7-3 lead into the seventh inning against Effingham County.
But the Rebels struck for five runs in the bottom half of the inning, taking advantage of an overthrow at third base to walk off with a win.
“I’ve seen something similar to that happen about five times in this series,” SEHS coach Ron Womack said. “It’s crazy. You try to prepare the kids, that anything can happen, especially in a rivalry, but it’s tough.
“I felt confident after the practice we had Thursday we’d bounce back. You don’t want your kids to go through (a loss) like that, but you like to see how they’ll respond.”
If there’s any accuracy to baseball’s old adage, “Momentum is only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher,” the Mustangs were in good shape heading into Friday’s game.
Hare allowed only one Effingham County runner as far as third base and surrendered just one hit over the final four innings.
“It was one of his best performances,” Womack said. “He was throwing all his pitches for strikes.”
More importantly, it reinforced the confidence of South Effingham. The Mustangs advanced to the Elite Eight of the Class AAAAA state tournament last season.
“We only lost one starter (in the lineup) and I think the other eight have gotten better,” Hare said. “We should do even better this season.”
This week’s series with Richmond Hill should tell a lot. A year ago, the Wildcats swept the Mustangs.
Effingham County, looking for its 10th win which would equal last season’s total, meets the region’s only undefeated team, Statesboro. The Blue Devils scored 43 runs during a three-game sweep of Bradwell Institute in their first region action.
“Nothing is easy in this region,” Womack said.