TIFTON — The Tift County Blue Devils needed a win Friday night to advance to the state Class AAAAA baseball playoffs and they got it with a 9-4 victory over the Colquitt County Packers.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the first — due to a long home run by Colquitt’s John Michael Harrison — the Devils quickly got the lead for good in the bottom of the inning.

Tyce Moore, Jacob Stinson and Chance Veazey hit consecutive singles to begin the frame. With the bases loaded, Matthew Brunty got a two-run single that scored Moore and Stinson.

After one out, Brooks Martin hit a long fly ball to center. Harrison caught the ball and doubled off Brunty trying to go to third on the tag. That out occurred before Veazey could score, so the run did not count.

Tift got three more runs in the second on a two-run single by Veazey, as well as a RBI single by Stinson.

The Packers a run in the third when Corey Hancock doubled and Blake Cato singled him home.

Tift answered with three more runs in the third. Hunter McAllister and Moore had RBI singles in that frame.

Tift then closed out its scoring in the fifth when Ryan Casey scored on a delayed play at the plate.

Ben Watson took the win. He struck out eight in seven innings of work.

In his last regular season home game, Tyce Moore was 2-for-2, and reached base all four times at the plate. Stinson, a fellow senior, a fellow senior also had two hits, and one RBI.

Brunty in his last game at home had the two-run double in the first. Senior Brooks Martin had one hit and reached base twice. The first time was on a walk. Senior Jermaine Watts ran for him on that play and scored.

Overall, Veazey led the Devils with three hits with a two-run double. Rhett Hammond added two hits, and McAllister had his RBI hit.

Tift will probably have to play Camden County in the first round of the state playoffs next week. But, that is not yet official. Camden appears to have won Region 3-AAAAA.

The Packers finish the 2008 season 9-16 overall and 2-10 in the region.

Colquitt had six hits, including Harrison’s homer, doubles by Hancock, Bo Williams and Andrew McDowell and singles by Blake Cato and Ben Cauthen.

McDowell gave up eight earned runs and eight hits in 2.3 innings.

Austin McAlpin pitched 2.1 inning and gave up four hits and 1 earned run. Hancock pitched one inning.