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The LaGrange high School baseball earned a tough, hard fought 7-5 win in game three against Flowery Branch on Wednesday to earn a spot in the AAAA quarterfinals.

The Grangers took an early lead when they scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Robbie Parker got the scoring started with an RBI single. Parker scored moments later when Preston Pressley drove him in with a single of his own.

Flowery Branch scored a run in the top of the fourth to cut the Grangers lead to one. Flowery Branch proceeded to take its first lead of the game with two runs in the following inning to take a 3-2 lead.

The Flowery Branch lead did not last long as the Grangers stuck back with a vengeance in the bottom of the fifth inning. Seth Stargell tied the game on an RBI single to get the scoring party started in the inning. This was followed by Zack Thompson and Colton Esposito each hitting an RBI single to give the Grangers a 5-3 lead heading into the sixth inning.

Flowery Branch generated two runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game and cause some frayed nerves in Granger Park. A fantastic defensive play from Parker and Thompson stopped a runner at the plate from scoring that would’ve given Flowery Branch the lead.

The Grangers answered the bell once again with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Pressley got the winning RBI on a two out RBI single to give the Grangers a crucial late lead. Pressley scored later in the inning on an error to give the Grangers a bit more of a cushion heading into the seventh inning.

Parker shut the door on any chance of a Flowery Branch rally in the top of the seventh. Parker did not get the start on the mound but put in a good shift in his one and 2/3rds innings of work. He only allowed two hits on one strikeout. Caden Wood got the start on the mound and had a good showing in his five and 1/3rd innings on the mound. He allowed five hits and three earned runs on three strikeouts.

Pressley was the star offensively for the Grangers as he went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored. Parker was no slouch from the plate either as he went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Thompson had the other multi-hit game for LaGrange as he went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Stargell and Esposito also had an RBI apiece for the Grangers on the evening.

LaGrange will host a three-game series against Heritage High School on May 9-10 to decide which team will advance to the semifinals.