TIFTON — Head coach Greg Williams could not make Tuesday’s Region 1-6A opener between his Tift County Blue Devils and the Valdosta Wildcats because of illness but his players had his back, walking off a five-inning, run-rule 10-0 victory.

Valdosta will have a chance at revenge Friday in a home doubleheader. Game one begins at 4:30 p.m.

With Bryan McLain filling in for Williams, John Davis surrendered only two hits in the complete game, both by Stephen Little. Everybody in Tift’s lineup reached base at least once.

Sophomore Tanner Day held the Devils to two runs through three innings, but Valdosta’s luck ran out in the fourth. Ten men came to the plate, six of them scoring.

Free passes were a major source of Wildcat woes. Four pitchers combined to walk six Tift batters and hit four more.

One of each is how Tyler VanSumeren and Landon Parrish turned into the game’s first two runs. The duo made it aboard to begin the second frame, then were joined on the bags by Sam Pritchard, who was also hit with one out.

Mason Grist blooped a single over second for the first tally. Walker Brannen hit a sac fly to center to make it 2-0 Devils.

Grist and Brannen walked to begin the fourth. Will Pridgen bunted a beauty, easily making first, with Grist scoring on the play following a wild throw. Davis cleaned up Brannen and Pridgen with a stand-up triple to center.

Before Davis’ courtesy runner, Brodie Law, had a chance to move, the bases were juiced again on walks to Mac Brooks and VanSumeren. Parrish drove in the first two after slashing a single. He then stole second, VanSumeren making home on the throw to that bag.

Josh Tanner got the next three men to escape the inning, but Valdosta wouldn’t be so lucky in the fifth.

Pridgen, Law (running for Davis) and Brooks were all aboard with one down. VanSumeren singled to right, driving in two for runs No. 9 and 10 and the run-rule ending.

Valdosta’s only serious threats came in the fourth and fifth. Little doubled to center with two down, then stole third. Davis stranded him there with a strikeout.

A miscue in the fifth put Jack Steedely aboard with one down and Turner Samples was hit with two outs. Davis again went the strikeout route to exit the frame unharmed.

Pridgen and VanSumeren each had two hits.  Davis fanned five.

The opening night of region additionally saw Lowndes edge Richmond Hill, 3-2, and Colquitt County blow out Camden County, 11-0. Colquitt’s game was also a run-rule.