Wilcox County Seals Game Three for shot at the State Championship
The 26-8 Wilcox County Patriots defeated the Emmaunel County Institute in three games in the Final Four
ROCHELLE, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – On Wednesday evening, the Wilcox County Patriots split their GHSA A Division-II Semifinals series with Emmanuel County Institute to force a game three on Thursday at 5 p.m.
The Patriots shut out ECI 3-0 in game one behind 16 strikeouts from Johhny Nutt, but fell short in game two 4-2.
In Game Three, the Patriots sealed the series victory with a 7-3 win over the Bulldogs.
Wilcox County will now advance to just it’s second state baseball championship in school history.
After the game, Patriots Head Coach Stephen McDuffie spoke about the journey these kids have had to get here and how proud he is of his players for the incredible season they have had to get to this point.
“I’ve been watching these kids play since they were seven or eight years old. When they were that age, the first tournament they ever played was in Jeff Davis, and they won. They wasn’t supposed to then, and we told them then, ‘one day you’re going to win a state championship in high school, and they’ve just believed that, and they’re just fighting” said Coach Mc Duffie.
The Patriots Head Coach went onto say, “These seniors have put the team on the back, and they’re leading. It’s just amazing to watch what they do. I’m just so proud of these guys. Before we played, they prayed for each other on each position of the field, and it’s just amazing to see that it’s not just all about baseball, it’s about life and it’s about caring for people. These kids right here, they love each other, and that’s why they’re playing so hard for each other.”
Coach McDuffie got emotional when he touched on this being his last season with the baseball team. “This is my last year coaching baseball here. I took the football job here, and it means a lot. It means a lot. I’m just proud these kids had this opportunity, and they give me the opportunity to be a part of.”
The Patriots will now head to Statesboro to face defending champion Lanier County Tuesday. Game one at JJ Clements Field starts at 5 p.m. Game Two is set for 7:30 p.m.
