Josh Mata isn't playing like a freshman.

Mata, who started on the varsity a year ago as an eighth-grader, blasted two home runs to help the Indians rebound from their first region loss with a 14-2 victory over York on Friday.

The Indians improve to 4-1 in the region.

For the game, Mata was 3 for 4 with five RBIs. He homered in consecutive bats with a solo homer in the second and a 2-run shot in the fourth inning.

"Josh has been working hard and it's paying off," Gaffney coach Jeff Osment said.

But Mata wasn't the only Indian with a hot bat on Friday. McCrae Norton singled and tripled, while Cameron Culp had three hits and Thomas Goode was 2 for 3, including a home run.

Culp also picked up the win, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out three.

Osment said staying ahead in the count has been the key to Culp's success this season.

"Cameron has done a good job for us," Osment said. "He's always around the strike zone."

The Indians jumped on the York starter for two runs in the first. Norton and Culp each singled before John Michaels advanced both runners with a sacrifice. On the play, York had a throwing error to allow Norton to score. Bobby Jackson delivered a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.

After York pulled within 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the first, Gaffney answered with a big 9-run second.

Mata and Goode ignited the flurry with back-to-back homers to lead off the inning.

Mata had another 2-run blast in the fourth.

The game was called after five innings on the mercy rule.

The Indians will be busy this week with a nonregion game at Dorman today, another road game at Nation Ford on Tuesday and a home game against Fort Mill on Friday.