By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

The LaGrange Grangers overwhelmed visiting Sandy Creek 12-0 on Friday to improve to 3-2 in Region 5-AAAA.

LaGrange has dropped road games to Troup and Cartersville, but it has beaten Cedartown, Central-Carroll and Sandy Creek at home to move above .500 in the region and solidify itself as a playoff contender.

LaGrange will reach the halfway point of the region schedule when it visits Chapel Hill on Tuesday.

“You just try to go through and pick up as many region wins as you can,” LaGrange head coach David Smart said. “They’re all important. This one is just as important as yesterday’s, and just as important as the next one.”

John Morgan was as dominant as usual on the mound, throwing three scoreless innings while giving up one hit with no walks and three strikeouts.

Ben Stogner pitched a scoreless fourth inning to finish it.

Offensively, senior Cole Freeman had a big game for the Grangers, going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Trent Bailey had a hit and three RBIs, and Wesley Kuhn had a hit and two RBIs.

Brant Williams had a hit, a walk and an RBI, and Will Flowers had a hit.

“I’m pleased,” Smart said. “I think we’re starting to play better. We’re swinging the bat better. We’re doing some better things.”

Smart is glad to see some of the team’s veterans, including Freeman, start to found their form at the plate.

“Our older guys are starting to hit the ball like Cole, and Trent,” Smart said. “Charles had a double yesterday. He’s starting to heat up.”

If LaGrange beats Chapel Hill on Tuesday, it will reach the halfway point of the region schedule no worse than third place.