BUDE – For four innings the Hazlehurst Indians gave FranklinCounty their best shot in a meeting a Region 7-3A rivals on thediamond. The Bulldogs overcame a pesky Indians team to sweep thevarsity doubleheader 11-1 and 12-2.

FCHS plays host to Wilkinson County Tuesday afternoon at 5 foranother varsity doubleheader.

The Bulldogs (8-5, 6-0) used an eight run fifth inning to take a10-1 lead after five frames of play. The Indians and Bulldogs weredeadlocked at one apiece through four innings of play.

“We came out flat,” said Diamond Dawgs coach Brent Calcote. “In thefifth inning we swung the bat better than we have all season. GiveHazlehurst credit. They are a lot better than in years past.”

Franklin Co. 11, Hazlehurst 1

RBI hits from Austin McFarland, Hunter Hatcher, Milton Griffin, andKin Mullins helped the Bulldogs in the fifth frame. Hatcher led theteam in hitting with a single and a double.

Hazlehurst starting pitcher Gabriel Gray kept the Indians in thecontest through four innings of work. Gray, an All-State footballand basketball standout, collected an RBI double offensively.

Indians outfielder Willie Erwin added a single and a double.

For the Bulldogs, senior pitcher Colton Laird collected the winwith two strikeouts. Junior Preston Shelton added two strikeouts inrelief.

At the plate the Bulldogs got a triple from senior DeHendretCollins. Calvin Robinson, Shelton, and Laird each added asingle.

Franklin Co. 12, Hazlehurst 2

Eight strikeouts by starting southpaw pitcher DeHendret Collins setthe tone for the Bulldogs early. Collins, with an effective mid 80sfastball, kept the Indians off balance and off the scoreboard untilthe fifth inning when errors plagued the Dawgs.

Standup doubles by Hunter Hatcher and Preston Shelton led theBulldogs on offense.

Gray led Hazlehurst at the plate with two singles.

“It was two good wins for us,” added Calcote. “We’ve still got somethings we have to improve on.”

The Bulldogs are 6-0 in the Swamp this season.