Knights cruise to win

A typical Evans-Harlem baseball game brings with it bragging rights and a game-of-the-week-type atmosphere.

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With more important region action approaching this weekend for both teams, Tuesday night's 7-3 Evans win at Harlem was more of an afterthought.

"We looked at it thinking we had to come in and do the best we can to get ready for Friday," Evans coach Ricky Beale said. "It all starts over on Friday, and everyone will be in the same boat."

Evans (12-8) opens the Region 2-AAAA Tournament on Friday with a best-of-three series at Effingham County.

Harlem (11-9) has more to worry about. The Bulldogs will have played six games in five days by week's end, including a matchup against Region 3-AAA North rival Thomson on Thursday and a region doubleheader against Butler on Friday. Harlem plays at Jefferson County today.

"No disrespect to Evans or Jefferson County, but these games are just a glorified practice," Harlem coach Jimmie Lewis said of the team's two nonregion opponents this week. "We both want to win, but there are more important games this week."

Harlem fared better against Evans on Tuesday than it did earlier this season - the Bulldogs lost 11-1 on March 7.

Evans scored three runs in the first inning off a three-run homer from senior Shawn Ward, but Harlem quickly recovered.

The Bulldogs scored a run in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly from senior Eric Schnitzler.

Evans added a run in the third and fourth innings only to see Harlem answer with two runs on a two-out bases-loaded single from Steven Waters in the bottom of the fourth. The clutch hit cut the Knights' lead in half at 5-3.

Evans led 7-3 entering the last inning, and the lead would have been bigger had Evans not stranded 12 runners.

"We left a lot of people on base, and we can't do that," Beale said. "That's something that we've got to correct before Friday."

Harlem loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh to bring the potential tying run to the plate. However, a long drive off the bat of Rodney Scruggs was tracked down by Zack Walker to end the game.

"That's a typical Harlem team," Beale said. "They scrap and claw in every game."

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