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The GHS Yellowjackets began with an 8-0 shutout win over the South Fulton Red Devils on Monday. Greenfield got a strong performance both on the mound and at the plate from senior Colin Medling in the victory.
The same two teams tangled the following day. Greenfield's offense continued to roll, but the Red Devils picked up some offensive steam as well. Greenfield rallied in the top of the seventh for a 13-8 victory to improve to 5-1 against District 14-A opponents.
The wins kept coming for Greenfield as a Thursday showdown with the host West Carroll War Eagles ended with the Yellowjackets on top, 7-1, thanks to stellar defense and pitching to improve their overall record to 8-3.
In the first of the two games against South Fulton, the location was switched to the Twin Cities due to wet conditions in Greenfield. The change of venue did nothing to slow down the Orange and Black.
Medling had a hand in the 8-0 win both offensively and defensively. The senior started on the hill and limited the Redmen to two hits while reaching a double-digit total in strikeouts.
Medling was also involved in Greenfield's first scoring foray in the third inning with an RBI double and a run. Brett Perkins plated the first run on a sac fly from Steven Johnson. Medling's double brought home Cody Ricketts, who also reached on a two-bagger. Medling crossed home on a Dalton Potts single for a 3-0 GHS advantage.
The Yellowjackets got three more in the fourth. Ty Smithson showed patience at the plate, drawing a walk to get things started. Medling had an RBI single, his third hit of the day, in Greenfield's productive at-bat.
Johnson scored an unearned run for in the fifth and also the team's final run in the sixth as Greenfield took the 8-0 victory.
"Colin Medling was in control on the mound all day, striking out 10 and walking one and giving up only two hits," GHS head coach Mike Riggs said.
The two teams met again in South Fulton on Tuesday with the Jackets chalking up the season sweep.
Four consecutive walks in the first inning gave GHS a 1-0 lead. It was short-lived as South Fulton put two runs up in the home half of the first thanks to an error and a home run.
Greenfield retaliated in the second inning with five runs. Medling smashed a grand slam in the at-bat to push the Yellowjackets' lead to 6-2.
Defensive lapses by the Jackets allowed SF to regain the lead in the bottom of the second. The Devils put six runs on the board thanks to three errors and two base hits for an 8-6 South Fulton lead.
Greenfield cut its deficit in half in the third with a run. Jonathan Benson singled and scored on a double from Perkins.
Dalton Potts took the mound in relief for GHS with a man on in the third. The freshman picked off the runner and went on to retire the side.
Greenfield forged an 8-all tie in the fifth when Daniel Rickets walked and scored on a double off Benson's bat.
The Jackets blew the game open in their final at-bat. Potts singled before Daniel Ricketts and Jake Lasater walked to load the bases. Benson smacked a two-run single. Perkins' double brought in Lasater. An error allowed Benson and Perkins to scamper home to give Greenfield the momentum and a 13-8 lead.
Potts shut down SF in their final at-bat to take the win.
"I was not pleased with our focus and defense early, but the guys hung in and got a big district win. Potts pitched really well and gave us a chance," Riggs said.
On Thursday, the Jackets had to battle both the wind and the War Eagles to earn the 7-1 win in Atwood.
After struggling at times in the field on Tuesday, Greenfield was error-free against West Carroll and turned a key double play.
Perkins, taking the mound for GHS, got the 1-6-3 twin killing rolling to prevent the War Eagles from taking a lead in the top of the first inning.
Greenfield rode the high from its big defensive play to an offensive advantage in the bottom of the second inning. Back-to-back singles from Medling and Potts put runners on and Medling eventually scored on a passed ball for a 1-0 lead.
West Carroll knotted the score at 1-all in the top of the fourth, but the Jackets regained the edge with three runs in the home half. Johnson's leadoff double and a single from Potts were just part of the equation. The War Eagles' two errors helped Greenfield move in front 4-1.
The Jackets added three runs in the fifth on an error, a walk and singles from Potts and Lasater.
Perkins kept West Carroll scoreless but needed a little help from the bullpen in the seventh. Potts came in with two on and two outs. The freshman needed just one pitch to end the game and preserve the 7-1 GHS win.
"We played well today considering the wind conditions. Brett (Perkins) pitched an excellent game, striking out six," the GHS coach pointed out. "We played well defensively. We turned a big 1-6-3 double play to prevent a run scoring in the first inning. That seemed to get us going."