By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Sports Editor

The eighth ranked Fayette County Tiger baseball team had to be hoping that their rivals the McIntosh Chiefs would survive their first round match up with LaGrange. The Tigers had beaten McIntosh no more than a week ago and familiarity breeds contempt. There was no such luck however and Fayette County played host to the LaGrange Grangers.

Game one of the best two out of three series had Gerald Johnson on the mound for the Tigers. It was a game of homeruns for Fayette County, with Brett Latham and Brandon Croft each hitting a two run homerun and Lee Roberson hitting a three run homerun. Johnson gave up his share of runs as well, striking out eight batters but giving up seven hits. The game started to drift from Johnson and Coach Robert Townsend had to make sure LaGrange didn't overtake his team. Jeremy Gratzer came in and faced two batters but it was Brett Latham that stopped the bleeding. Latham hadn't pitched an inning during the season, but he held LaGrange off, allowing no runs and keeping the score tied 8-8. Fayette produced the ninth and final run in the bottom of the ninth, winning 9-8.

Game two featured a dominant Lee Roberson on the mound for Fayette County. He pitched great for five innings but started to falter a bit in the sixth, giving up four runs. The hero was Latham though. He hit a three run homerun and then came into pitch again, holding LaGrange off and protecting Fayette county's 7-6 win. The Tigers traveled to Newnan at 4:30 p.m.on Tuesday for a one game playoff to determine the region champ. They will face either Northside, Warner Robbins or Evans, Augusta this weekend, most likely at home. "

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