The Ware County Gators Baseball Team opened the 2026 season on the road Tuesday night, February 10, traveling to Valdosta to take on perennial powerhouse Lowndes Vikings. Despite outhitting the Vikings 12–9, the Gators came up just short in a 6 - 4 final.
Gators Strike First
Ware County got on the board in the top of the third inning. Seth Suess laced a single down the right field line to drive in a run, and Landon Smallwood followed with a double to center field that plated another, giving the Gators an early 2 - 0 advantage.
Lowndes answered in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run to even the score at 2 - 2.
Fifth-Inning Swing
The game turned in the bottom of the fifth when the Vikings capitalized with timely power and productive outs. A two-run homer put Lowndes in front, followed by a solo shot later in the inning. A sacrifice fly added another run as the Vikings built a lead they would not relinquish.
Offensive Production
Ware County’s offense showed plenty of promise in the opener, finishing with 12 hits on the night.
Seth Suess, Slade Sweat, Collin Crawford, and Landon Smallwood each recorded two hits.
Landon Smallwood led the Gators with two RBIs, going 2 - for - 4 at the plate.
The Gators also applied pressure on the basepaths, swiping four bases during the contest.
On the Mound
Ryder Kinnon got the start for Ware County, working 2⅔ innings while allowing two runs on four hits. Several Gators contributed in relief as the pitching staff worked to keep the team within striking distance throughout the night.
Lowndes collected nine hits and played clean defensively without committing an error.
Looking Ahead
The Gators will look to bounce back quickly as they continue their road swing later this week.
🐊 Upcoming Baseball Schedule
Wednesday 2/11/2026
Thursday 2/12/2026
Friday 2/13/2026
Saturday 2/14/2026
Ware County looks forward to building on a strong offensive showing as the season continues. The Green and Gold will aim to turn early lessons into wins as they settle into the 2026 campaign.