Northside’s season ends in sweep to Loganville

On Wednesday at Northside in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs, it was all about the pitching.

Patriots starters Jalen Latta and Drew Haywood were great. They kept their team in both games, giving them chances to get out with a series victory.

Loganville’s were just a little bit better.

The visiting pitchers combined for 26 strikeouts in two games, out of a total of 42 outs recorded, to overcome Northside in a two-game sweep, 3-2 and 4-1.

The two losses ended a promising season for the Patriots, who won their first ever region championship and advanced to the second round of the Class 5A playoffs. Northside coach Dee Miller was left shaking his head after the game, much in the same way his players were at the plate.

“They can pitch it well,” Miller said. “Mitchell Miller, in the first game, might have been as good a high-school performance as I’ve seen in a long time. There’s a reason he’s going to Mississippi State.”

Against Miller, Northside scored two runs in the first inning of Game 1 but never crossed the plate again. Miller took complete control of the game for the next six innings, recording 16 of the game’s 21 outs via strikeout.

Northside had a chance to tie or take the lead in the bottom half of the sixth inning with a two-out rally, but left the bases loaded one a soft flare to right field was caught on the run. The Patriots didn’t get another chance in the seventh, as Miller struck out the first two batters in the inning and worked around a two-out walk to Haywood.

“He moved the ball in and out, hit his spots, changed speeds, threw the breaking ball for a strike,” Miller said. “He just kept us off balance. We had some chances to capitalize with guys on base, and we just couldn’t find a hit.”

Northside got its two runs in the first inning on a two-out, two-RBI double by Tyler Pace. He drove in Haywood, who was hit by a pitch, and Seth Shadix, who reached on an error.

The second game wasn’t quite as dominant, but still much of the same. Northside scored a run in the first inning on an RBI double by Seth Shadix, but stranded him and didn’t get another good scoring opportunity. Loganville starter Ryan English struck out six, and reliever Drew Franklin had four to close out the game’s final two innings.

Northside led 1-0 until allowing three in the fifth and one in the sixth.

“Drew and Jalen threw the ball great today,” Miller said. “They gave us a chance. We just couldn’t find enough power offensively.”

Miller said it was hard to reflect on the season after the loss but did note the team’s successes with a region championship and getting back into the playoff conversation.

“I’m proud of that,” he said. “We’ll always remember this group of seniors for the way they led and the way they worked to lay the foundation for, hopefully, a bright future.”

This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Northside’s season ends in sweep to Loganville."