Ward's hit lifts Knights to win

A 1-for-5 day at the plate isn't the usual performance from Evans' Shawn Ward.

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But in Saturday's Region 2-AAAA game against Statesboro, Ward's lone hit was all the Knights needed to break an eighth-inning tie and win, 5-4.

"There's no doubt about it, I wasn't being aggressive enough," Ward said of his first four plate appearances, in which he failed to get the ball out of the infield.

But his last swing put the ball into the gap in right-center and scored Matt Stark for the winning run for the Knights (9-6, 3-3).

"That game right there is the epitome of this region top to bottom," Evans coach Ricky Beale said. "Every game is a good one."

Ward said a region win in a close game was a big lift for his team, which has four losses by three runs or less.

"We needed it. This game united us a little bit more," Ward said. "That's what we were missing. Coming back to win in the eighth inning helps."

Evans sophomore Kevin Millward also helped in the win by pitching a six-hitter with four strikeouts and only one walk. He improved his record to 5-0.

Senior catcher Wes Baxter made the first Evans comeback of the day with a solo home run in the second inning to tie the game at 1-1. Statesboro took the lead again on runs in the fourth and fifth innings before the Knights responded with a three-run sixth inning to take a 4-3 lead.

A sacrifice fly from Statesboro's Jake Ware in the seventh inning tied the game at 4-4 to set up Ward's heroics.

Beale said the win sets the tone for a weeklong break.

"It was a big win for us. We needed this game heading into spring break," he said. "Today we put the ball in play, and that's something we haven't been doing. That makes all the difference."

NOTE: Evans' rematch at rival Greenbrier, scheduled for April 11, has been moved to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Reach Billy Byler at (706) 863-6165 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.