By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

Daniel Swann got the LaGrange Academy Warriors off to a quick start with a two-run home run in the first inning, and that was plenty of support for pitcher Joseph Calhoun, who was untouchable.

Calhoun threw a no-hitter and struck out 12 to lead LaGrange Academy to a 4-0 victory over visiting Brandon Hall.

It was the GISA Region 1-AA opener for LaGrange Academy.

“Jo-Jo was throwing great,” LaGrange Academy head coach Brandon Lybrand said. “He struggled a little bit in the first inning or two. Once he settled down he was great. He was mixing his pitches when he needed to. He did a phenomenal job.”

Calhoun was backed up by a defense that, as has been the case throughout the season, was outstanding.

The Warriors didn’t have any errors.

“That’s the name of the game,” Lybrand said. “You don’t make any errors, you’ll usually have a good result.”

The win was an important one since LaGrange Academy and Brandon Hall are both contenders for the region title.

“We figured Brandon Hall and us will be the two teams battling for the region this year,” Lybrand said. “They’ve got a good team. Give them credit. They battled, fought hard.”

Offensively, the Warriors banged out nine hits, including Swann’s two-run home run in the first inning.

Swann finished with two hits and three RBIs, and Calhoun had three hits and he scored two runs.

John Whitlow had two hits, Mason Brown had a hit and an RBI, and Luke Swann had a hit.

The Warriors followed up their two-run first inning with single runs in the third and sixth innings.

LaGrange Academy will look to move to 2-0 in the region when it visits rival Flint River on Tuesday.

“That’s always a big game,” Lybrand said.