The Ware County Gators opened play in the Battle at the Beach Tournament on Friday, February 20, with a strong showing, defeating the Whitewater Wildcats 7-4 behind a productive day at the plate and steady pitching.
Suess Sparks 13-Hit Attack
Ware County’s offense was paced by Seth Suess, who turned in a perfect day at the plate with three singles across four at-bats. His consistent contact helped set the tone as the Gators tallied 13 hits in the tournament opener.
Whitewater struck first in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead, but the Gators answered in the bottom of the third. Singles from Collin Crawford and Blake Gunter fueled a three-run inning, giving Ware County a 3-1 advantage.
The Wildcats responded with three runs in the fifth to briefly reclaim the lead at 4-3. Ware County quickly countered in the bottom half of the inning, as Keaton Holloway delivered a clutch single and another run scored on a passed ball to put the Gators back on top for good.
Pitching and Defense Hold the Line
Slade Sweat earned the win in relief, tossing three innings while allowing two runs on five hits and striking out three. Starter Ryder Kinnon worked the first two innings, surrendering one run and striking out two, while Trace Crosby also contributed out of the bullpen.
Defensively, the Gators were sharp throughout the contest, playing error-free baseball and turning a double play. Walker Hudson anchored the defense with seven chances and added spark on the bases with two stolen bases as part of Ware County’s four-steal effort.
Balanced Production at the Plate
Blake Gunter drove in two runs in a 2-for-3 performance, while Crawford and Landon Smallwood each recorded multiple hits. The Gators’ aggressive baserunning and timely hitting helped maintain pressure and secure the opening-round victory.
Up Next
Ware County will continue tournament play on Saturday, February 21, 2026, traveling to Glynn Academy for another Battle at the Beach matchup against Cartersville. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM.