Tuesday night marked one of the biggest in state regular season games we have seen this season. The Etowah Eagles, ranked almost unanimous as the top team in the state, took on the Walton Raiders (ranked top 3 in 6A on most sites) in the first game of their region championship series. 

On the mound for the eagles was Georgia commit Matthew Sharman and Hh took on Walton’s ace; Hyland Brown. 

In the 1st inning, Deion Cole (2026) got things started with a double for Etowah, but the Eagles failed to do anything after Walton’s Wyatt Reuter made an incredible catch and turned a double play. However, the Eagles handled business on the other side of the plate, not allowing a hit for Walton in the first inning. 

The Eagles would continue to put pressure on Walton in the second inning. They broke the deadlock when Carson Moore hit a bouncing single into the outfield, scoring one. Later in the inning, Kellen Foster doubled Etowah’s lead via an RBI fielder’s choice, where Walton got Jack Turner out at second.  

Both pitchers handled business in the third, not allowing a single hit between the two. 

After 3 innings, Etowah led 2-0.  

Walton had a bit of a rally in the 4th inning. Led by a double by Jackson Taylor (Clemson commit), Walton loaded the bases but failed to score. 

Walton got on the board in the 5th inning when Wyatt Reuter popped one up to right field that was too far for the right fielder Carson Moore, which scored Mercer commit Parker Dastou. 

Junior Westen Chen relieved Brown ahead of the 6th inning, Brown finished with two runs given up and 4 strikeouts. Chen made an immediate impact, not allowing a hit in the 6th. 

Going into the bottom of the 7th, Etowah led 2-1. 

In the 7th, Etowah finished the job with our Player of the game Matthew Sharman only allowing 5 hits throughout the contest and only one run while playing all 7 innings. 

Sharman said “the defense played great tonight, we made a much of diving plays, and it really was a great blessing from God that we won tonight. “ 

These two play again Thursday night in a doubleheader at Etowah. Sharman mentioned that Etowah needs to keep their heads up and play with intensity” in order to take home the region.