THOMASVILLE – Just days after suffering a 13-0 defeat to Thomas County Central, the Cairo Syrupmakers made the trip down Highway 84 where they topped the Yellow Jackets 7-5, snapping a four-game losing streak.

The Syrupmakers looked good early. Not only did they get out of trouble after walking the bases loaded, but Cairo also went up 6-0 by the end of the second inning. It started when Cannon Maige and Jaxon Cox jacked back-to-back home runs, scoring a total of three runs. The next batter, Will Cox, was hit by a pitch and scored after a Jake Brinson RBI single.

In the second inning, Cairo loaded the bases after a single and a pair of walks. Caden Allen and Gavin Barrett scored on a passed ball to make it 6-0.

However, the Yellow Jackets weren’t done and put their first runs on the board in the bottom of the third. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Reid Gainous scored on a ground out by Dallas Pitts. Cairo pitcher Ty Hatcher walked in a second run to cut the Syrupmakers lead to four.

A Cannon Maige double scored Eli Cooper in the fourth, bringing the lead back to five. Central would get that lead back and more in the bottom of the inning as Brayden Payne doubled to center field, scoring Matthew Anuez. Another double by Dallas Pitts scored Landon Walsh and Gainous and brought new life to a Central team that was suddenly down by just two.

However, The Central offense would go stale with back-to-back three-up-three-down innings. A pair of walks in the seventh gave the Yellow Jackets slight hope, but they ultimately lost the game 7-5.

For Central it’s a tough end to a difficult year. In their first year under head coach Sy Jones, the Yellow Jackets went 12-16, finished with a 5-10 region record, and ended the season fifth in the region.

Cairo’s season will continue. The Syrupmakers finished the season with an 11-14 record, but secured a 6-4 region record, and third place in the region. Cairo, who has the 28 seed, will face fifth seeded Oconee County in the first round of the playoffs. The Oconee County Warriors finished the season 23-7, 12-3 in their region, and won the Region 8-AAA title. Many Thomasvillians will remember the Warriors from last year’s state playoffs. Oconee defeated the Bulldogs in a three-game series in the elite eight.

Cairo will play Oconee in the first round of the playoffs beginning on Friday, April 25.