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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

The LaGrange Grangers surged to a 2-0 lead in the second inning, but it was North Paulding capturing a 5-3 victory on the opening day of the LaGrange Toyota Invitational.

The eight-team tournament continues on Friday and Saturday, with each of the teams playing four games.

Trailing 2-1, North Paulding surged to the lead with three runs in the fifth inning, and it added another run in the top of the seventh to go ahead 5-2.

The Grangers scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to get within two, and the tying run was at the plate when the game ended.

After a scoreless first inning, LaGrange plated two runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead.

Mason Green, Walton Lanier and Will Flowers each singled to load the bases with one out, and Cole Crawford followed with a base hit to center field to drive in two runs.

The Grangers had a chance to do more damage when they loaded the bases with one out, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat.

After getting one run in the third inning, North Paulding grabbed the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth before tacking on an insurance run in the seventh.

Trailing by three runs, the Grangers tried to rally in their final at-bat.

Brant Williams reached on a one-out single, and two batters later, Charles Crawford’s RBI double cut North Paulding’s lead to 5-3.

Tyler Roon, who pitched the final two innings, got a groundout to end the threat, and the game.

Lanier had two of LaGrange’s eight hits, and Williams, Charles Crawford, Morgan, Mason Green, Flowers and Cole Crawford each had one hit.

Williams was LaGrange’s starting pitcher, and he threw five innings and gave up five hits and three earned runs.

Lanier worked the final two innings, allowing one hit and one run.

In Thursday’s first game, Buford opened the tournament with a 12-3 victory over Northside-Columbus.

THURSDAY

AT GRANGER PARK

Buford 12, Northside 3

North Paulding 5, LaGrange 3

FRIDAY

AT GRANGER PARK

Noon – Trinity Christian vs. Russell County

2:30 p.m. – Providence vs. Desoto

5 p.m. – Desoto vs. North Paulding

7:30 p.m. – LaGrange vs. Providence

AT LAGRANGE 

COLLEGE

5 p.m. – Buford vs. Trinity Christian

7:30 p.m. – Northside vs. Russell County

SATURDAY

AT GRANGER PARK

10 a.m. – LaGrange vs. Desoto

12:30 p.m. – Buford vs. Russell County

5 p.m. – Seventh-place game

7:30 p.m. – Championship game

AT LAGRANGE 

COLLEGE

10 a.m. – Northside vs. Trinity Christian

AT CALLAWAY HIGH

12:30 p.m. – Providence vs. North Paulding

5 p.m. – Fifth-place game

8 p.m. – Third-place game