Decatur Ousts Greater Atlanta Christian, 5-3

James Burrell did more than his share on Tuesday to inch his baseball team a step closer to the Class AA state playoffs.

The senior right-hander delivered a gritty performance on the mound, while his teammates gladly did the rest as the Bulldogs outlasted Greater Atlanta Christian, 5-3, in a key Region 6-AA showdown at .

Better known as “Boomer” to his teammates and friends, Burrell worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning before settling down and came within an out of a complete game to key the Bulldogs’ first victory in a six-team regional round-robin. The teams with the top four records after five games will advance to the state tournament.

The Spartans made things interesting in their final at-bat, loading the bases before left fielder Charlie Shew secured the victory for the Bulldogs (14-6 overall, 7-5 6-AA) with a clutch shoestring catch of a Robby McPherson line drive to end the game.

Burrell, who had given way to Sean Grimes for the game’s final out, had been tagged for three hits in the first inning, but didn’t allow a run while scattering just two more hits the rest of the way. His strong command and ability to successfully work the corners kept the visitors guessing at the plate. Burrell, who had tossed more than 120 pitches before leaving the game in the top of the seventh, finished with six strikeouts before wearing down late and struggling with his control.

“I had my groove today,” he said. “My fastball and curveball were working tonight.”

Decatur coach Rusty Bennett stayed with his ace as long as possible before Grimes came on to notch the save with the game’s final out.

“He’s a competitor,” said Bennett said of Burrell. “He wanted the baseball in the seventh, but he was washed.”

The Bulldogs, who will resume action Thursday at Buford, scored first when Ross Whatley rapped a single to center field to score Todd Foster in the third inning. Darryl Pittman dropped a two-RBI blooper to shallow right center two batters later, sending both Trumon Jefferson and Whatley home to extend the home team’s team advantage to 3-0.

Decatur had extended its lead to 5-1 after five innings, only for GAC to mount a late rally.

Whatley finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, including a solo homerun in the fifth inning to pace the winners, while teammates Pittman and Todd Fowler each added two more hits apiece.