Loganville claims third straight GHSA title with walk off win

On Friday, the Loganville Red Devils and Cartersville Purple Hurricane faced off in a decisive Game 3 of the Georgia High School Association Class 5A State Championship game after splitting the first two games, with the Red Devils winning Game 1 by a final of 5-3 and the Purple Hurricanes taking Game 2 14-3.

After a pair of scoreless innings to start the game, Cartersville would gain momentum in the top of the third inning as they would score three runs and take a 3-0 lead into the bottom half of the inning. The score would remain that way until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Red Devils would rally for three runs of their own to tie the game 3-3.

While the top of the sixth inning would be a one, two, three inning as the Red Devils would retire the first three batters with Jaylen Jones on the mound, Loganville would threaten in the bottom of the inning with bases loaded for James Beaver, But Sawyer Wilson would get Beaver to fly out to right field for the third out of the inning.

With the seventh inning underway, Jones and the Red Devils would once again retire the first three Cartersville batters, giving them a chance to pick up the win in the bottom half of the frame. Tucker Segars would get Loganville going with a leadoff single to put the winning run on base and the Purple Hurricanes would then intentionally  walk Jordan Johnson moving Segars into scoring position.

The first out of the inning would then come as Wilson would get Nolan Keener to fly out, but would next Aiden Gorvett next to load the bases for Angel Quezada, who would single and bring home the winning run, giving the Red Devils the walk off 4-3 win.

“I knew it was my last appearance ever on the baseball field and I just wanted to get it done for my team and take home my third state championship,” Quezada said after Friday’s victory, praising his teammates for battling back. “We’re a team that just keeps fighting and we did what we did. That’s Loganville baseball for you,” Quezada said, adding, “I love this team and it’s just the best thing that’s ever happened,” the senior said.