Warriors oust Knights

Jamie Wachter

May 17, 2008 01:08 am

— THOMASVILLE — The champion has been dethroned.
Windsor Academy’s reign as GISA Class AA champions ended Friday with 13-8 and 21-12 losses to Brookwood in the second round. Brookwood (18-9) hosts the winner of Heritage and Gatewood on Friday in a semifinal.
The Warriors’ slaying of the Knights (20-5) came with a helping hand from Windsor. The Knights committed five errors in the first game — four in Brookwood’s nine-run first inning.
After Brent Kinsey singled to lead off the frame, the Warriors’ next two hitters — Brent and Jeb Johnson — reached on defensive miscues to stake Brookwood to a 1-0 lead. Following a sacrifice fly from Caleb Bryson and a Scott Cheney single, Windsor’s tough start continued as right fielder Timothy Sark dropped a Kyle Brown fly ball, allowing two more runs to score. Three batters later, Drew Balfour singled to score two. Following a walk to Kinsey, Brent Johnson doubled off the wall to drive in two more. Jeb Johnson finished the onslaught with a double to dead center to score Brent Johnson.
Armed with the early cushion, Brookwood starter Jeb Johnson scattered six hits, allowing four runs — two earned. The senior struck out seven in five innings.
The Warriors tacked on three more runs in the fifth when Brown delivered a bases-loaded double before Windsor rallied.
The Knights knocked out reliever Bryson after four walks in the seventh and a single from Josh Watts, who finished 3-4 with two runs and four RBIs. After Brent Johnson relieved Bryson, the Knights coaxed another walk and an error before a strikeout and a deep fly ball to right field ended the threat.
The Warriors were led by Cheney’s three runs on a single and three walks.
Brookwood’s hot offense continued in the second game, as the Warriors jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Kinsey walked and Brent Johnson singled to advance Kinsey to third. The junior shortstop scored on an errant throw trying to catch Johnson stealing. Cheney drove in Johnson on a ground out and Bryson, who walked, scored on a Brown single.
After Windsor answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame — thanks to a leadoff home run from Seth Fuller and four Brown walks, Brookwood responded with two in the second to regain the lead for good. With two outs, Jeb Johnson doubled to right field to score Kinsey and Brent Johnson.