Evans rallies to hold spot in playoffs

And then there was one.

Evans is the lone Columbia County baseball team still playing after the Knights rallied to knock off No. 3 Hardaway, 11-10, in Game 3 of the second round of the Class AAAA state playoffs Thursday.

Shawn Ward hit a walk-off triple for the Knights as they overcame a four-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Evans had dropped Game 1, 7-1, before rebounding for a 7-3 win Wednesday night.

Thursday's win gives the seventh-ranked Knights (21-8) an opportunity to play host to No. 9 Etowah on Tuesday in the state quarterfinals. The Etowah Eagles (20-9) swept No. 2 Northwest Whitfield to make it to the third round.

Harlem's season ended Wednesday after being swept by No. 2 LaGrange.

Harlem lost Game 1, 4-2, and Game 2, 7-1, to the defending Class AAA state champs. Lakeside also was swept in the second round of the playoffs.

Top-ranked Lee County edged Lakeside 3-1 in Game 1 before blasting the Panthers 24-9 in Game 2. The Panthers (16-13) fell behind, 17-1, after the second inning but battled back to make the game close.