After an 8-1 loss to the St. Martin Yellowjackets Friday night in the first round of the South 4-A State playoffs, Wayne County Coach Chris McCardle and the rest of the War Eagle baseball team had to sweep the visitors from the coast, and they did just that Saturday in Waynesboro.-

The War Eagles will travel to Monticello Thursday to face the senior-heavy team from Region 6-4A -- champion Lawrence County Cougars, who boast a 21-7 record.

“Its going to be a tough ballgame,” McCardle said. “After the first round you have good programs, and you have to be ready to play.” But the War Eagles aren’t that bad of a team either, finishing second in Region 5-4A at 20-6 overall.

Cougar Coach Cory Keyes said the War Eagles have an excellent pitching staff that is pretty tough to hit. “Wayne County’s (DeMarcus) Henderson is a solid pitcher, “ he said. “Wayne County only has two seniors, but the team as a whole can pitch the ball really well.”

In order for the War Eagles to compete against the Cougars, McCardle believes his squad will have to play solid defense to get the job done. “We’re going to have to play defense,” he said. “Then we’ll have to pitch, and throw strikes, then scrap up a few runs.”

For Keyes and his Cougars, the main thing will be doing what they’ve been doing all year. “We’re just a blue-collar team,” he said.

“We don’t have any superstars. We come prepared to work at practice every day. We’ll have to work to earn it.”

Henderson was the winning pitcher for Wayne County in Saturday’s first game against St. Martin. He also led the War Eagles at the plate with two doubles, a triple and a single.

In the second game, Nate Cran hit a sixth inning grand slam, padding Wayne County’s 5-4 lead.

Thursday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m. The second game will be in Waynesboro at Wayne County High School at 7 p.m.

A third game, if necessary, will be back in Monticello Saturday at 3 p.m.