Colquitt County’s Ross Goforth (24) is congratulated by Packers coach Tony Kirkland after hitting the first of his three home runs in the second-game victory over Valdosta on Friday at Ike Aultman Field. The Packers swept the Region 1-AAAAAA twin bill from the Wildcats, winning 6-1 and 15-5.

The Region 1-AAAAAA baseball coaches have agreed to honor a top pitcher and top hitter each week this season and they hope to spread the award around to as many players as possible.

Last week was the first time the award was presented and Camden County pitcher Wyatt Holloway and Colquitt County third baseman Ross Goforth were the recipients.

Goforth hit .600 during the week with a home run and a pair of doubles.

And while the sentiment for making sure as many players as possible are recognized, it would appear Ross Goforth would be an odds-on favorite to keep the award in Moultrie for a second straight week.

The big, strong junior became the first Packer in 29 years to hit three home runs in one game in Colquitt’s 15-5 victory over Valdosta in the second game of Friday’s region doubleheader at Ike Aultman Field

He finished the game going 4-for-4 with five runs batted in and raised hit batting average to .565.

Goforth now has four home runs and 10 runs batted in as the Packers raised their Region 1-AAAAAA record to 4-0 and their overall record to 5-3

Current Colquitt County baseball radio announcer Jim Turner was the last Packer hit three game in a game when he pounded Valdosta’s Teddy West in 1984 in Valdosta.

Current Packers assistant coach Will Stuckey once hit four home runs in one day, hitting two in each end of a doubleheader.

Goforth’s first home came in the first inning of the second game with with teammates Blake Bennett and Aubrey McCarty aboard. It gave the Packers a 4-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, after McCarty whistled a liner over the right field fence for a two-run shot to give the Packers an 8-0 lead, Goforth struck again.

Goforth led off the top of the seventh with the most impressive shot of the night. It exited the park just to the right of 375 sign in dead center field.

The Packers have been swinging the bats with authority so far this season.

They took a .352 team batting average into the Friday doubleheader and added 20 more hits in the two games against the Wildcats.

Also in the second game, McCarty had three hits, Hathcock had two and Blake Bennett, Colin Kirkland, Daren Kent, Chad Jacobs and Ryan Pipkin each had one.

The hits by Jacobs and Pipkin were their first at the varsity level. The single by Jacobs drove in one run; Pipkin’s plated two.

Hathcock had a particularly productive night from the leadoff spot, reaching base six of the seven times the went to the plate.

He had four singles and walked twice, raising his batting average to .500.

One of his hits was on a perfect bunt and he also stole two bases.

Kirkland liked his hitters’ patience and approach against the Valdosta pitchers, who threw predominantly breaking balls.

The Wildcats were not hesitant to throw curve balls on 2-0 and 3-0 counts.

The Packers got some fine work on the mound, especially from McCarty, who will be a nominee for Pitcher of the Week.

The ambidextrous one went the distance in Game 1, scattering five hits and stranding nine base runners.

The Wildcats only run came when Goforth threw away a two-out bouncer in the seventh.

McCarty struck out four and walked two, both in the seventh inning.

Cole Bryant worked four scoreless innings in the nightcap before giving up a walk, a single and a double after retiring the first batter in the fifth.

Clayton Brown came on and walked two batters before giving up a three-run double to Craig Barry.

The five-run fifth enabled the Wildcats to escape a 10-after-five mercy rule loss.

Bennett got final three outs in the seventh after hitting the first batter of the inning.

He struck out the final two batters, including Barry to end the game.

Bennett was the Packers nominee for the Pitcher of the Week last week after impressive outings in relief against Crisp County and Brunswick.

The Packers will be back at Ike Aultman Field on Wednesday for a 5:45 p.m. game against Crisp County.

The Packers and Cougars have split two earlier meetings, with Colquitt winning 5-4 at home and Crisp winning 8-6 in Cordele.

Colquitt also will be home next Friday for a region doubleheader against Tift County starting at 4:30 p.m.