ATHENS — Canton fell 8-1 to Athens during District 15 Minors Baseball bracket play on Saturday.

Athens jumped out with a 5-run first inning, then tacked on another run in the third. 

They scored two more in the fourth for an 8-0 lead.

Canton prevented the shutout with a run in the sixth.

Dawson Hill (1-for-2) scored the run as Huntley Thomas (1-for-2) drove him in.

Ike Preston (1-for-3) and Abe Pepper (1-for-2) both had hits.

Beau Bassett started and struck out one in a third of an inning.

Dean Pepper went 2 1/3-innings with four strikeouts, followed by William Finogle going 1 1/3-innings with two strikeouts. Pepper earned his 100th strikeout of the season.

Preston tossed the final inning.

Canton will host Alleghany Mountain on Monday in the elimination bracket semifinals.

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