ADEL – Hayden Hembree’s two-out, two-run sixth-inning double broke a 3-3 tie and led the Colquitt County baseball team to an 8-3 victory over Cook on Tuesday in Adel.
The victory was the first for the Packers after three straight losses to open the season.
The Packers led 2-0 when Cook scored three runs in the bottom of fourth.
Colquitt then tied the game 3-3 on a Bowen DeRosso single that scored Adam Beverly.
The sixth-inning go-ahead rally started with Jake Walker delivering a one-out single to left.
Carter Penuel’s base hit to right moved Tyson Samples, who was running for Walker, to third.
Rylan Howell bunted into a fielder’s choice with Samples being tagged out at the plate.
But Hembree’s double to left scored both Penuel and Howell to put the Packers back up 5-3.
Brady DeRosso’s line drive single to center scored Gabe Eubanks, who was running for Hembree, and Colquitt led 6-3.
The Packers added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
Bryce Roberts opened the inning with a double to right and Bowen DeRosso followed with his third hit of the game, a double to center to score Jackson Edwards, who was running for Roberts.
Bowen DeRosso went to third on a sacrifice by Tyson Hobby and scored on a double by Walker.
The late Colquitt County lead was protected by Roberts, who got the win after pitching the final 3.2 scoreless innings, while allowing just one hit and one walk.
He struck out five Hornets.
Roberts, a sophomore who started the game at third base, retired the Hornets in order in the bottom of the seventh.
Bowen DeRosso pitched the first 3.1 innings and gave up Cook’s three runs.
The Packers, who had 20 hits in their first three games combined, erupted for 16 against the Hornets.
In addition to Bowen DeRosso’s three hits, Hembree, Beverly, Walker and Howell each had two hits and Roberts, Hobby and Penuel each had one.
Roberts, Walker, Hembree and Bowen DeRosso all had doubles.
The loss was the first for Cook, which had opened the season with three straight wins.
The 1-3 Packers will now be off until Friday when they will play in the Georgia-Florida Challenge on Ike Aultman Field at Jerry Croft Stadium.
At 3:30 p.m. Friday, Creekside of Fairburn, Ga. will meet Bishop Verot of Fort Myers, Fla.
At 6 p.m., the Packers will meet Florida Christian of Miami.
On Saturday, the Georga-Florida Challenge will continue with John Carroll High of Fort Pierce, Fla., facing Mater Academy of Hialeah Gardens, Fla., at 11 a.m.
Colquitt will play Killian High of Miami, Fla., at 1:30 p.m. in the final game of the Challenge.