On Saturday, Feb. 29, the Fannin Co. Rebels baseball team (2-6) traveled to Calhoun to take on the Yellow Jackets (7-0) for a doubleheader. The Rebels had just come from an unsuccessful weekend in Brunswick and hoped to redeem themselves in Calhoun, but fell short in both games as they lost the first 2-1 and the second 4-3.

Both teams showed great effort in the game as they came out ready to play. Pitching on both ends was solid. Matthew Shirah was the one to take the mound for Fannin Co. as he struck out seven batters through five innings. The teams played solid defense as they allowed no scores to run until the seventh inning.

At the top of the seventh, Blake Rogers was the one to get things started on offense for Fannin Co. as he hit a fly ball home run to centerfield to put the score at 1-0. Rogers came in from the bullpen to relieve Shirah at the bottom of the seventh inning. After a Fannin Co. error, the Yellow Jackets had runners on second and third.

On a passed ball, Calhoun hustled to the plate to tie the game 1-1 to put the game into an extra inning. The Rebels went 1-2-3 in the inning. Fannin Co. was looking to return the favor and hold Calhoun in hopes of putting the game into another extra inning. The Yellow Jackets were determined as they put the ball into action and loaded the bases to hit a line drive and bring a runner home to end the game with a 2-1 victory. 

Fannin Co. hitting came alive in the second game of the day as they out-hit Calhoun six to four. Despite the Rebels performance on offense, the Yellow Jackets were able to pull off another victory with a score of 4-3. Carson Beavers was on the mound for Fannin Co. where he struckout 11 batters over six innings.

Blake Rogers was on fire for the day as he earned his second home run in the first inning to score two runs. Jerritt Holloway played a great game on offense as he earned two hits for Fannin Co. The game was back-and-forth as Calhoun answered the Rebels’ call and scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the first to tie up the game 2-2.

The Yellow Jackets were able to hold Fannin Co. as they went on to take the lead in the bottom of the third inning with a sacrifice fly. At the top of the sixth inning, Gabe Buchannan made it to first on a dropped third strike and advanced Jacob Priesing to home plate to tie the game 3-3. Calhoun was able to shut Fannin Co. offense down at the top of the seventh inning as they kept them from scoring any runs. Brady Martin relieved Beavers on the mound to close the game where he earned the first out with a strikeout.

After an error in the field, the Yellow Jackets were able to get on base. With a runner on, Calhoun was able to hit a single and bring a run in to close out the day with a 4-3 victory. 

Catch the Rebels next game Tuesday, March 3, as they take on Ringgold at home starting at 5:30 p.m.