Area No. 1 West Orange broke a tie in the fourth inning thanks to a bases-loaded walk and won 6-2 over visiting Dr. Phillips in a Class 9A Region 1 baseball quarterfinal game.
The Warriors added an insurance run on an error in the fifth inning.
West Orange (25-3), which is No. 2 in The PrepZone state rankings for 9A, will stay at home to play district rival Lake Brantley in next Tuesday’s Region 1 semifinal.
The Warriors’ Andrew Coello scored from first on an error after Panthers centerfielder James Hurst failed to come up with a catch on a ball hit to right centerfield. That helped keep the inning alive as the Warriors tacked on two runs to add security to the lead.
West Orange pitcher Cole Beavin was stellar, going six innings and striking out 10. He gave up two runs in the third inning on just one hit, four walks and a hit by pitch. Beavin struck out seven of the remaining 10 batters he faced and did not issue a walk the rest of the way.
West Orange struck first in the first inning with an RBI double from Doug Nikhazy and a sacrifice fly from Justin Holmes.
Dr. Phillips pitcher Cort Roedig gave up three runs in four inning pitched, striking out five and walking seven.
