May 11--The Vidalia Indians split a pair of games with the Lovett Lions in the third round of the state baseball playoffs on Monday at Greg James Field.  Vidalia won the first game 4-2 but dropped the night cap 1-0.  In game one Landry Mead picked up his 13^th win of the season scattering 7 hits over 7 innings of work while striking out 9 batters.  In the second game Caden Spivey took a tough 1-0 loss in a good old fashion pitcher’s duel.  Spivey only allowed 3 hits and struck out 9 batters but the Indian offense was shut down by the Lions pitcher who allowed only 2 hits and struck out 9 Indians.  The split forces a deciding Game 3 Tuesday afternoon at Greg James Field starting at 4:00 pm.

In Game 1 neither team scored in the first two innings but in the top of the third Lovett was able to plate 2 runs on three hits and a couple of walks.  In the bottom of the third Vidalia was able to get one run back as Spivey got a one out single, was sacrificed to second by Banks and scored on a double by Mead leaving the score 2-1 in favor of Lovett after three innings.  In the bottom of the 5^th inning the Indians scored 3 more runs to go up 4-2 as Banks led off with a single, was sacrificed to second by Mead and scored on a double by Whited.  Graham then drove in Whited with a single and took second on the throw to the plate.  Bennett came in to run for Graham and stole third on a 2-1 pitch to Moncus who was then intentionally walked putting runners on the corners with two outs.  With Blount up to bat Moncus stole second on the first pitch and then Bennett came home on a pitch in the dirt with Moncus moving to third.  Blount drew the walk but then a fly ball ended the inning with Vidalia leading 4-2.  Mead then went to work striking out 5 of the last 6 Lions batters to secure the win.  Whited and Spivey each had 2 hits to lead the offense

.

In Game 2 Caden Spivey pitched a good game but was out dueled by the Lions pitcher as the Indian offense could muster only a two out double by Mead in the third inning and a one out single by Graham in the fourth inning.  Lovett got a leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth inning but then Spivey got two quick outs before the Lions got a single to drive in the lone run of the game.  The Lions pitcher set down the Indians 1-2-3 in the top of the 7^th inning to secure the 1-0 win. You can hear the game on Classic Hits, 98Q and at southeastgeorgiatoday.com.

(Pictures by Carroll Williams)