In a dramatic finish to Game 1 of the GHSA Class 3A-A Private quarterfinals, Savannah Christian Preparatory Schools (SCPS) Chase Boyer stepped up with two runners on and delivered a walk-off double, lifting the Raiders to a 5-4 victory over Greater Atlanta Christian (GAC) on Wednesday afternoon.
PHOTO: SCPS took an early lead in Game 1 as Mason Omohundro slid home safely on a perfectly executed Jack Stahl squeeze bunt in the bottom of the second inning.Courtesy SCPS Athletic Department
The Raiders were trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh when Boyer's game-winner brought home the tying and winning runs. Savannah Christian had built an early 3-0 lead before GAC rallied with four runs in the top of the seventh.
Nevertheless, the Raiders managed to put the winning runs on base. Cardin Patrick led off with a single, followed by Harding Dennis drawing a walk. Both players advanced to second and third when the GAC relief pitcher threw a wild pitch to move each runner up one base. So, with runners on second and third, GAC pitcher Zack Koons surrendered a walk-off single to Boyer, sealing the game with a thrilling 5-4 victory for the Raiders.
"I was a little nervous, but I knew if he gave me a pitch to hit, I'd punish him for it," said Boyer after the game. "He did, and I crushed it. Game over."
However, head coach Matt Oglesby said he never lost confidence in his group.
"We've been in games like that before," said Oglesby. "It's a resilient group. Nobody in our dugout gave up."
Coming off an injury, Brody Schuman gave the Raiders a significant lift on the mound, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings and striking out seven. Oglesby noted, "That's the best I've ever seen him pitch."
PHOTO: SCPS pitcher Brody Schuman gave the Raiders a significant lift on the mound, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings in Game 1 of the GHSA quarterfinals. Courtesy SCPS Athletic Department
| GAME 1 | ||||||||||
| SCPS 5, GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN 4 | ||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| GAC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
| SCPS | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
Game 2: GAC Bounces Back
Game 2 had the same tone, this time with GAC leading 3-0 early, as both teams battled in a pitchers' duel. GAC edged Savannah Christian 3-2, powered by a GAC Jakobi Bowens two-run homer in the third inning. Bowens drove in all three runs for GAC. SCPS battled back to cut the lead to 3-2, but could not come up with the big hit in this game to win the series.
Savannah Christian used a bullpen-by-committee strategy, with Ethan Jones, Brian Hong, and Jackson Farkas combining to allow just three runs. Farkas threw three shutout innings to keep the Raiders within striking distance, but the offense couldn't come up with the big hit late.
"We pitched well enough to win," said Oglesby. "They just got the big hit, and we didn't. But I love where we're at heading into Game 3."
Weston Hughes, batting seventh for the Savannah Christian Varsity Raiders, had two runs batted in. The outfielder had one hit in three at-bats during the game. Cardin Patrick, Hughes, and Harding Dennis each recorded a hit for SCPS in the loss.
The series is now tied 1-1, and Game 3 is set for Thursday at 3 p.m. at Savannah Christian. Oglesby said the Raiders will turn to Dawson Kelly to start, with Harding Dennis and Chase Boyer available in relief.
"We've saved our top arms, and we're right where we want to be," Oglesby said. "We just have to take it one pitch at a time."
The winner of Thursday's game will advance to the GHSA semifinals.
| GAME 2 | ||||||||||
| GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN 3, SCPS 2 | ||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| SCPS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| GAC | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 | 5 | 0 |
Photo Credits: Courtesy SCPS Baseball 2025 (lead Photo Chase Boyer)- and SCPS Athletic Department
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