Blythewood Online 691

Category: Sports

  • Diamond Invitational Update: Day 1

    The Blythewood baseball team opened the South Carolina Diamond Invitational tournament with a 4-1 victory over Nations Ford Wednesday night at the Blythewood baseball field.

    Bengals starter Daniel Zippel worked a complete game 3-hitter, striking out five. His only run was unearned. Blythewood (11-8) got started in the first inning, when Ben Lang-Spittler and Aidan Massey singled and Landon Cruz was hit by an Evan Lammers pitch to load the bases with one out. Josh Cowan singled in Lang-Spittler.

    Before the Bengals could get any more, Zach Bailes hit into a 6-3 double play to end the inning and strand two.

    Blythewood took a 2-0 lead with an unearned run in the second. Jordan Flemming reached base on a 2-out error and took second as Lang-Spittler batted. Lang-Spittler hit a grounder to third baseman Carter McCrain, but first baseman Haydon Mobbs couldn’t hold onto the throw, which enabled Flemming to score. Todd Mattox ended the inning on a groundout.

    The Bengals picked up two more runs in the fifth. Massey and Cruz singled with one out, and Cowan enabled Massey to score when he reached on an error. Zach Bailes bunt singled to drive in Cruz for the second run.

    Landon Lucas singled to load the bases with one out, but Brady Beasley flied out to Levi Kenley in right field. Kenley then rifled a throw to catcher Nick Hoffman to get Cowan at the plate to complete the double play.

    Nations Ford’s only run came in the top of the sixth. Tim Kelso singled up the middle to lead off the inning, With one out, and after Kelso moved to second, Kenley reached on an error that scored Kelso.

    Alex Stennet flied out and Tyler Causey grounded out to end the inning.

    In other games Wednesday, Lexington defeated J.L. Mann 1-0, T.L. Hanna beat Belton-Honea Path 5-1. Dutch Fork won 8-1 over Dorman.

    Blythewood takes on T.L. Hanna at 1:30 Thursday.

     

    Nations Ford  000      001      0          –           1 2 4

    Blythewood    110      020      x          –           4 6 2

    WP: Daniel Zippel. LP: Evan Lammers.

    Hitters: Blythewood – Aidan Massey 2-3, Josh Cowan 2-3 Ben Lang-Spittler 2-4.

     

     

     

  • Blythewood softball struggles at Dutch Fork

    Blythewood softball had a tough outing Friday night against the Dutch Fork Silver Foxes. Things started even enough with both teams bringing a run home in the first frame, but after that Dutch Fork began to run away with it.

    Dutch Fork seized the lead in the second inning, and put the nail in the coffin with a seven run third inning, and for extra measure put up an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth.

    Sydney Moss had a big night for the Silver Foxes. She drove in three runs on three hits, meanwhile Hannah Putlock had two RBI’s for Dutch Fork.

    Blythewood’s Kendall Parker picked up a couple of hits of her own, but for the most the Bengals’ bats struggled against some solid Dutch Fork Pitching.

    Carolyn Lusk pitched five-strong and struck-out five and Morgan Scott struck out three in just one inning of work.

    Blythewood will not take the field again until after Spring Break when they take on Lexington.

  • Westwood whiffs against Lancaster

    Redhawk Rae’Jean Patterson contorts her body to put on a play at the plate

    The Westwood softball team went up against Region 3-4A leader Lancaster in the final game before spring break, and it went about as expected for the Redhawks.

    Lancaster sent 30 batters to the plate in the time it took for Westwood to have all its starters have an at-bat, and the Bruins closed out a 15-0 shutout in four innings Thursday at the Westwood softball field.

    “We were playing a good Lancaster team, no doubt one of the best teams in our region right now,” Head coach Lila Grooms said. “They are, and I commend them with their sportsmanship. In all honesty, they took it a little easy on us. But I appreciate it, and it’s more experience for the girls.”

    The Redhawks (1-5 region, 1-9 overall) only mustered two hits, a second-inning single from Jimenez, and Cayla Petty’s single in the fourth.

    Grace Revels led the Bruins (7-0, 12-3) with a 3-for-4 plate performance, including her one-out, 2-run home run over the rightfield fence in the second. Jada Ames homered in the third. Alexus Lowery and Arianna Early each went 2-for-4.

    The Bruins sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning, coming back with five runs on two hits and two Westwood errors. Lancaster made it 12-0 after two innings, with seven runs on four hits and two more Westwood errors.

    Westwood gave up two runs in the third and another in the fourth.

    The Redhawks’ only baserunning moment came after Jamisha Taylor drew a walk in the third inning and shortly afterward was picked off—happened in the fourth.

    After Deltrice Holmes struck out to lead off the frame, Petty singled into short left. She took second and third as Brook Bayne batted, and when Bayne drew a walk, Westwood had runners at first and third with just one out.

    Unfortunately for the Redhawks, Lancaster blunted a double-steal attempt. Petty took off for home just as Bayne went for second. The throw at second was too late for Petty, but the Bruins hung up Petty between third and home. She was tagged out at third.

    Marlena Perez grounded out to end the game on the 10-run mercy rule.

    “We wake up at the end, but by then it’s too late,” Grooms said. “We’re getting there though. We’re playing a little better than expected. This was a game where they could see what they can be. They’ll get there eventually, they just have to stick with it.”

    Ihayanna Cruz and Petty, who pitched for two innings before going back to third base, have proven solid on the left side. Cruz and Petty made a pair of putouts that got the Redhawks out of a mess in the third inning. Cruz had a putout and an assist in the second inning, and Cruz snagged a ground ball and made a putout in the first.

    “They’re good players, they’re very committed to getting better,” Grooms said. “Those are two prime players on the team. They’re expected to play at a high level and we know they’re going to give that effort in every game.”

    Westwood is off for Spring Break and will play South Pointe and Ridge View when school resumes.

    Lancaster: 5-7-2-1 -15 11 0

    Westwood: 0-0-0-0- 0 2 4

    WP: Arianna Early LP: Cayla Petty

    Hitters: Lancaster – Grace Revels 3-4, HR. Jada Ames HR. Alexus Lowery 2-4. Arianna Early 2-4.

     

  • Bengals drop 11-inning thriller at home

    Shortstop Zach Bailes (8) plants and prepares to throw over a laser to the bag.

    BLYTHEWOOD – The Blythewood and West Florence pitching staffs battled it out in a close game Saturday, but the Knights eventually edged the Bengals, 3-1 after 11 innings. Bengals starter Hunter McCoy and Knights starter Dustin Williams combined for nine innings of work, seven hits, five strikeouts, only one-run and West Florence stranded 14 baserunners, while Blythewood left nine on the base-path.

    “You got to give their guys credit,” Bengals’ head coach Banks Faulkner said. “They filled up the zone, and like most high school teams, when you don’t get a lot of free bases, it’s hard to generate offense.”

    Relief pitching was also a highlight of the low-scoring battle. Quincy Manning came on in the eighth for West Florence and pitched four innings of shut-out ball, meanwhile Daniel Zippel and Landon Lucas came out of the bullpen for Blythewood, pitching some solid ball in tough situations.

    “We’re pitching at a really high level,” Faulkner said. “That was our big question mark coming into the year and we feel like we got six guys that are throwing the ball good and so we’ve got some depth too, and we’re not just one or two guys then we see a big drop-off. We’re throwing two sophomores and a freshman in big situations and they’re doing nothing but getting better.”

    West Florence threatened to take an early lead in the top of the second when pitcher Dustin Williams beat out an infield single and nearly came around after another Knights’ single, but a laser of a throw from left-field enabled catcher Josh Cowan to tag the runner at the plate.

    A runner did not actually cross the plate until the bottom half of the fifth inning. Brady Beasley, the second batter in the fifth inning, was drilled by a pitch, and a double from Ben Spittler landed Beasley on third. Then an error allowed Beasley to easily score.

    West Florence did not stay down long. In the top of the sixth they knotted the game back up. Brennan Herndon singled off of Daniel Zippel, then stole second before being brought home by pitcher Dustin Williams.

    Then the bats went cold again for both teams until the top of the tenth. The Knights picked up a single and double to plant a base-runner on third with one out, but the Bengals wiggled out of the jam to survive another inning.

    Mason Sheeler led off the top off the eleventh with a single, and Ethan Dowdy followed him onto base after Blythewood was unable to field a bunt. Then Jake Swartz delivered the biggest hit of the game when he lined a laser out to right-field, scoring both Sheeler and Dowdy.

    That left Blythewood with just three more outs to score at least two runs. Josh Cowan led off and grounded out on the first pitch. He was followed by Zach Bailes, and he flew out to left field.

    Thomas Murphy, the Bengals’ designated hitter, strolled up to the plate representing Blythewood’s last hope, but a fly-out to right field ended the game.

    “It’s tough,” Faulkner said. “It’s not an effort thing. It’s just one of them days that’s why you talk about pitching and playing defense. Proud of our pitching staff for how they continued to throw zeros up there. Give them credit, they just got a big hit and we couldn’t.”

    BHS: 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0- 1

    WFHS: 0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-2- 3

    Hitting: 1B- Ben Spittler, Todd Mattox, Aiden Massey (2), Landon Cruz, Zaach Bailes (2), Brady Beasley, Jordan Flemming (BHS); Jake Swartz, Brennan Herndon, Hunter Harvin, Dustin Williams (2), Zach Medlin, Mason Sheeler (WFHS). 2B- Brennan Herndon, Ethan Dowdy (WFHS).

    Pitching: WP- Quincy Manning, LP- Landon Lucas.

    LOB: BHS-9, WFHS- 14.

     

  • Griffins sweep season series with Eagles

    WINNSBORO- Fairfield Central pulled off the hat trick on Friday night, by picking up their third win of the year against in town foe Richard Winn. Once again, it took the Griffins just five innings to claim an 11-1 victory over the Eagles.

    “Yesterday we started the game off with about seven errors,” Fairfield head coach Scotty Dean said. “Today it felt good to come out and play good solid clean baseball.”

    Jacob McManus, the younger of the two McManus brothers, toed the rubber for the Griffins, and delivered a doozy of a performance. The freshman struck out seven in his five innings of work, allowed only two hits and the sole Richard Winn run was unearned.

    “He walked more than I would have liked him too,” Dean said. “But the young guys up there are going to throw some balls and walk some people. One inning he threw about six pitches and made two of the outs his self. Out of the 15 outs we had I bet you he made about five of them. I think he is going to be really good. He’s a tall long guy. When he decides to cut one loose he has a little pop, he has a curveball, and I like his changeup. So we’re really looking forward to him growing up.”

    His brother Stanley McManus delivered with the bat. He went 3-4 on the night, with three RBI’s and also accounted for three Griffin runs.

    One of McManus’s RBI’s and his runs came in the first inning of play. Montavious Thompson and Chris Simmons also delivered a pair of RBI’s in the first frame, to give Fairfield the early 3-0 advantage.

    The only snag the Griffins pitching hit came in the second inning. McManus led off with a walk, gave up his only two hits of the night and Richard Winn scored their sole run, when Ethan McManus rounded third and scored, on an error.

    Richard Winn’s second inning run trimmed the deficit to two, but that would not last long because in the bottom half of the inning Fairfield unleashed seven runs on three hits. Stanley McManus delivered two more of his RBI’s, Antonio Jackson came up with a big RBI-single, Jacob McManus gave himself some run support with a RBI-double and the Eagles walked six additional Griffin batters.

    “It’s a non-region game, we’re trying to get some of our less experienced guys a little bit more experience,” Richard Winn head coach Paul Brigman said. “We just couldn’t find the strike-zone, we walked too many batters but it definitely felt like we were in the ball game up until that point.”

    Fairfield padded their lead with an additional run in the bottom of the third when Tydarius Young brought Stanley McManus home with an RBI-single. This gave Fairfield the 11-1 lead.

    Meanwhile, after a rough second inning, Jacob McManus found his groove. He sat down the side with just six pitches in the bottom of third, then faced very little opposition in the fourth and finally closed things down with two strikeouts in the last inning.

    “We want to win them all,” Brigman said. “But we realize that, you know to develop some of the players we gotta take our lumps in games like this. We’re young, and we’re going to get better but right now it’s just important to get some guys experience.”

    This game marked both team’s final contest until after the Spring Break holiday. Fairfield will head to Chester after the break, and Richard Winn will take on PAC.

    FCHS: 3-7-1-0-x-11

    RWA: 0-1-0-0-0-1

    Hitting: 1B- Montavious Thompson, Stanley McManus (3), Antonio Jackson, Chris Simmons, Tydarius Young (FCHS); Peyton Gilbert, Will Carvalho (RWA). 2B- Jacob McManus (FCHS).

    Pitching: WP- Jacob McManus. LP- Will Carvalho

     

  • Blythewood hosts Diamond Invitational

    Mason the Firefly

    BLYTHEWOOD- Blythewood High School plays host to the seventh annual South Carolina Diamond Invitation from April 13-16, featuring teams plucked from both 4-A and 5-A.

    J.L. Mann and Lexington did battle in the tournament’s lead-off game at noon on Wednesday. Lexington is currently the number eight ranked team in 5-A, and J.L. Mann lost 7-1 in last year’s championship game against Belton-Honea Path.

    Belton-Honea Path, the reigning champion, got its first taste of action in game 2 against T.L. Hanna, on Wednesday as well. Belton-Honea path finished last year’s Diamond Invitation undefeated, and also claimed a state title.

    Blythewood fans got a first chance to see their Bengals in game 3 at 5 p.m., when they took on Nation Ford, a 5-A school out of Fort Mill. The Bengals finished 1-2 last year, and lost in the consolation game against Summerville. Day one wrapped up with game 4, a Dutch Fork and Dorman match-up. Dutch Fork picked up a big win against White Knoll, the fifth ranked 5-A team in the state in their last contest.

    Day 2 (Thursday) off early with an 8:30 a.m. game featuring Belton-Honea Path taking on Nation Ford. Following that game, J.L. Mann and Dorman square off at 11 a.m.

    Blythewood gets their second crack at things with T.L. Hanna at 1:30 p.m., before Lexington closes out day two with fellow 5-A school Dutch Fork.

    Friday, day three, features a full-slate of baseball. Again things lead-off with an 8:30 a.m. contest between Nation Ford and T.L. Hanna.

    Dutch Fork takes on J.L.Mann at 11, and then Dorman goes up against Lexington. Then, there will be a break in the action at 4, for the home run derby and base-running competition, presented by BSN Sports.

    Following the derby, Blythewood takes the field for the third time against Belton-Honea Path, at 5:30 p.m. Day three will finish up with the fourth place game at 8 p.m.

    Saturday the tournament will close with a third place game at 9 a.m., then a consolation game at 11:30 a.m., and, finally, the championship game is slated for 2 p.m.

     Mason the Firefl

  • **Corrected:Blythewood mourns loss of Redhawk

    Courtesy of PalmettoSportsImaging

    Retraction: In the first version of this article it was stated that the Westwood football and basketball booster clubs would be working alongside Sweet Pea’s Ice Cream for a charity benefit. Due to scheduling conflicts the booster clubs were unable to participate.

     

    The Westwood Redhawks and entire Blythewood community are mourning the death of 16-year old Ellis Hawkins who lost his life March 31 in a multi-vehicle accident that occurred on Wilson Boulevard at Fulmer Road in Blythewood.

    Hawkins, a junior at Westwood high, was a restrained rear-seat passenger in a 2005 Saturn, when the Saturn traveled into oncoming traffic and collided with another vehicle.

    The collision took place at 6:10 p.m., and Hawkins was transported to Palmetto Health Richland Memorial Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries at 9:21 p.m., according to Richland County Coroner Gary Watts. Watts’ autopsy attributed the cause of death to multiple trauma due to the collision.

    Three others were transported to the hospital, but none sustained life threatening injuries.

    Westwood principle Dr.Cheryl Guy issued the following statement.

    “We are saddened and our hearts are heavy here. Ellis was an 11th grade student and athlete on our varsity football and basketball teams. On behalf of all of the students, teachers and staff at Westwood, I extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathy to the Hawkins family. Ellis will be missed by his friends, teammates and teachers and will always be part of the Redhawk Family,” Guy said.

    Ellis was a two-way defensive player who switched between linebacker and defensive end for the Redhawk football team. Dustin Curtis, Hawkins’ head football coach, said that his guys will be playing for Ellis when the football season rolls around. He said he also wanted to thank the Blythewood community for their support during this difficult time.

    “We lost a fantastic young man last Thursday. His impact on our Redhawk community was real, and he was a friend to so many.  Ellis will continue to be a big part of our team moving forward, and our guys will be playing hard for him.  We give many thanks back to the entire Westwood/Blythewood community for all of their support this past week,” Curtis said.

    In addition to Hawkins’ exploits on the gridiron, he was also a member of the varsity basketball program, and Redhawks head basketball coach Jeffrey DiBattisto said Hawkins was a hard working young man who had begun to earn himself a leadership position on the team.

    “Ellis Hawkins was an unbelievable young man who always had a smile on his face. He was able to connect to anyone he met. He excelled as a basketball player but was an even better person. He was one of our hardest workers and was always trying to get better. He had already begun to take a leadership role on our team as we began workouts this spring. We are going to miss him terribly,” DiBattisto said.

    Guy said additional counselors are on campus to help students and school employees.

    A candlelight vigil, organized by students and alumni, will be held Friday at 5 p.m. in the Westwood high parking lot. Viewing and visitation will be held Saturday, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium, and funeral services will follow at 1 p.m.

    Sweet Pea’s Ice Cream Parlor in Blythewood will be hosting a benefit for the Hawkins family at Sweet Pea’s on Saturday, April 15 from 4-7 p.m. Sweet Pea’s is located at 412 McNulty St. Donations and checks may be made payable to Sweet Pea’s with “E45 Donation” in the memo line are being collected through April 22 at the Parlor.

     

     

     

  • Redhawks take home emotional win

    Joshua Wise (11) goes airborne.

    The Westwood baseball team didn’t have to play Friday night.

     

    Following the tragic death of fellow student and two-sport athlete Ellis Hawkins in an auto accident Thursday night, the baseball coaches left it up to the players on whether they wanted to play at Richland Northeast.

    “We had guys who had played with him in football,” Westwood head coach Johnathan Burroughs said of Hawkins. “He was well liked not only in football and basketball, but also within the community and throughout the school.”

    Burroughs added that the team, along with guidance counselors and athletic director Jason Powell met to talk about what to do.

    “If they weren’t in it emotionally, then we could reschedule,” Burroughs said. “Not a big deal. (Hawkins’ death) is bigger than baseball.”

    Hawkins was a friend to many of the Redhawks, and instead of rescheduling, the Westwood baseball players chose to play.

    “They were all in,” Burroughs said. “They wanted to play for him tonight.”

    Westwood did. The Redhawks stayed hot at the plate and delivered a 12-7 victory over the Cavaliers to collect its fourth Region 3 4-A win.

    While Westwood (4-2 region, 4-5 overall) grieved the loss of a friend, it played fired up.

    The Redhawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, when Anthony LaCola scored on Ethan Barton’s sacrifice fly, and Rashawn Green and Josh Wise came home on Bryce Henson’s two-out double.

    Richland Northeast got a run back in the second, but Westwood took a 7-1 lead with a four-run tally in the third.

    Green, Wise, and Barton led off the inning with back-to-back-to-back hits. Green scored on Barton’s double to left, Barton and Henson came home on Brandon May’s one-out single, and Connor Buck drove May home.

    From that point it had appeared the Westwood had the game under control. But Richland Northeast got to starting pitcher Brandon Anderson in the bottom of the fourth, rallying for five runs to cut the lead to 7-6.

    Henry Taylor led off with a walk, and promptly came home on Jason English’s 2-run home run over the leftfield fence to cut Westwood’s lead to 7-3.

    Later, with one out, Tucker Dove singled, Anderson hit Chase Asbill, and Eli Prieto singled to drive in Dove. John Miller singled to load the bases, still with one out.

    That was the end for Anderson. May came on in relief and got Isaiah Manning to hit in a fielder’s choice for the second out. Tucker Bates singled to drive in Prieto and Miller, but May managed to strike out English and retire the side with the bases loaded again.

    Richland Northeast never got closer. Westwood got three more runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take a 12-6 lead. The Cavaliers managed only one run in the bottom of the sixth.

    Anderson worked 2 1/3 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits. He walked one but hit two batters.

    May put the fire out in the third, and from there onward he gave up three hits and a run in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six, walked two, and hit one.

    Burroughs noted some things to be cleaned up—the Redhawks committed five errors—the gaffes meant little under the circumstances of playing for a friend.

    “It’s tough,” Burroughs said. “I couldn’t ask any more from those kids to come out here with what they’re dealing with. I can’t ask them to forget about that.”

    Instead, Burroughs is pleased with what the team is remembering.

    “They’re starting to believe in themselves. They’re feeling it now, and we just gotta keep it rolling,” Burroughs said. “We’re approaching each game as the biggest game in the program’s history. Tonight was, and guess what next Tuesday is?”

    Westwood played host to York Tuesday, and is at Lancaster Thursday.

     

    Westwood: 3-0-4-3-2-0-0- 12 13 5

    Richland Northeast: 0-1-5-0-0-1-0-   7 10 1

    WP: Brandon Anderson LP: Henry Taylor

    Hitters: Westwood – Ethan Barton 2-4, 2B, Sac. Bryce Henson 2-4, 2B. Brandon May 2-4. Rashawn Green 2-3. Josh Wise 2-4. Richland Northeast – Jason English 2-5, HR. Tucker Dove 2-4, 2B.

     

  • Fairfield Central bested by Bulldogs…again

    Griffins’ ace Stanley McManus gave it his all on the mound, but it was not enough to keep Camden from picking up their second win over Fairfield this season.

    CAMDEN- Camden baseball got the better of the Griffins in their second regional match-up on of the season. The Bulldogs stepped out an 8-2 victor in the first contest, and this time they prevailed by the final of 7-2.

    Despite the five-run win, this remained a neck and neck game until the sixth inning. Camden’s starting pitcher, Devin Beckley, had his devastating stuff ready, and silenced the Griffins’ bats for most of the night. He allowed just two hits in his complete game performance, did not give up any earned runs and put up 12 K’s.

    “We don’t play well on defense,” Griffins’ head coach Scotty Dean said. “We don’t hit the ball very well. How many hits did they have before the sixth inning? Two. That tells me our guys is as good as theirs. We just don’t put it together well. It’s frustrating as all get out, because I know what our players capable of.”

    Stanley McManus had a good start on the other side of the mound, giving up just one hit before Camden’s big final inning. McManus struck-out seven in the game.

    “When that guy pitches for us, we got a chance to be pretty good,” Dean said. “The score was 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, that’s the same story that happened in Indian Land. It’s 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth and we find some way to give the game away.”

    Neither team could find the scoreboard until Camden put up a run after Nick Butler came around to score on a wild pitch, a problem that plagued the Griffins in the following inning. Errors and wild pitches cost Fairfield two more runs in the fourth, and it also led to a 3-0 hole.

    Travious Williams reached first in the top of the fifth, and Tracy Williamson came onto to pinch-run for him. Harvey Smith stepped up the plate and attempted to bring in the runner, but instead took a scary pitch to the head and had to leave the game.

    Williamson would come in to score after a Camden error allowed him to touch home and Smith’s pinch-runner reached third, but Beckley rung up two consecutive Griffin batters to end any further threat. Beckley started the sixth off with two-more strikeouts, but Rodric Woodard singled to keep the inning alive.

    Beckley walked McManus and Williams to jam the bases up, and after another pitch slipped past the catcher, Woodard came in to score. Beckley got another pivotal strikeout to end the inning and keep the Bulldogs’ 3-2 lead in tact.

    Then, in the bottom of the sixth, Camden exploded. They picked-up four runs on three hits after having only one hit in the previous five innings. Tate Abbott and Nick Butler both knocked in RBIs.

    Beckley stayed in during the final inning to finish the game, and with a pair of strikeouts and a ground ball he did just that. Fairfield’s next chance at a regional win will be Thursday at home against Indian Land.

    “We are capable of being pretty good,” Dean said. “That’s the number two or three ranked team in 3-A baseball. We played baseball with them for about six innings. That don’t mean nothing to nobody unless you pull out a win, and I keep saying we’ll get it together one day then you look up and we only got seven games left.”

    FCHS:0-0-0-0-1-1-0-2 CHS:0-0-1-2-0-4-7

    Pitching: FCHS – Stanley McManus (L) 5.2 IP, 3H, 7R, 3 ER, 3BB, 7K. Antonio Jackson, .1 IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K. CHS – Devin Beckley (W), CG, 2H, 2R, 0ER, 2BB, 12K.

    Hitting: 1B- Rodric Woodard (2), (FCHS); Nick Butler (2), Tyler Maxwell, Tate Abbott, (CHS).

     

     

  • Bengals fight off Foxes’ late charge

    Blythewood bats and baserunners were on point in the Bengals’ 11-7

    Blythewood’s John Lanier (24) hits the deck to sneak past Reece Cormier’s attempted tag.

    victory over Region 5-5A rival Dutch Fork, even if the pitching was not.
    “We just tried to score one more run than the other team,” Blythewood head coach Banks Faulkner said. “It’s a great win for us, gets us back up towards the top in the region. And it’s a win against one of the better lineups in the state.”
    A six-run first inning gave Blythewood starting pitcher Ben Spittler plenty of room to operate. Spittler gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings of work. He struck out five and walked two.
    John Lanier and Daniel Zippel pitched the sixth and seventh innings, respectively. Blythewood (7-5, 4-3) entered the top of the seventh leading 11-4, and Dutch Fork picked up three runs on two hits, two errors, a walk, and two hit batters.
    Ty Olenchuk represented the tying run with the bases loaded and two out, but Zippel got him to fly out to Landon Cruz in right field to close out the victory.
    “We’ve got a young pitching staff,” Faulkner said. “That kid there at the end (Zippel) is the only guy that has any varsity experience.”
    Landon Lucas lit up the scoreboard and the crowd in the bottom of the first.
    With Blythewood up 3-0 and Jordan Fleming and Lanier on base, Lucas blasted a strong 2-out line drive straight up the middle. Dutch Fork pitcher Reese Nichols got his glove on it for a split second, but the ball careened into deep right center field and carried to the fence.
    Fleming and Lanier came home easily, and when Dutch Fork outfielders couldn’t get the ball back into the infield, Lucas slid into home to complete the inside-the-park home run.
    “We talked about trying to throw up a crooked number early,” Faulkner said. “We let our guys settle in, and we kept answering, that’s what was big.”
    From that point, the Bengals needed only to play keep-away.
    Dutch Fork picked up a run in the second, when Jonathan Thomas hit a two-out, bases-loaded single that drove in Noah Jackson. Spittler got out of that jam when Jordan Beatson grounded into an inning-ending fielder’s choice.
    Blythewood got that run back when Zach Bales singled in Lanier with two out. Spittler flied out to retire the side.
    The Silver Foxes’ three-run fourth cut Blythewood’s lead to 7-4, but the Bengals responded with two runs in the ninth. Todd Mattox led off the inning with a double and came home on Josh Cowan’s one-out bunt single. Aidan Massey then scored on Lucas’ single to make it 9-4.
    The Bengals got two more runs in the sixth for an 11-4 lead going into the final inning.
    “I’m just real proud of the kids for finding a way to win,” Faulkner said. “They’d answer and we’d respond. That’s what’s exciting to me about our team. We’re awful young, we’ve got a lot of inexperience, but we’re finding ways to win. There’s still a lot of ways that we can continue to learn and grow from and get better.”
    Blythewood played White Knoll Wednesday.

    Dutch Fork 010 300 3 – 7 10 3
    Blythewood 601 202 x – 11 11 5
    WP: Ben Spittler. LP: Reese Nichols.
    Hitters: Dutch Fork – Jonathan Thomas 3-4. Crosby Jones 2-3, 2B. Hugh Ryan 2-4, 2B. Blythewood – Todd Mattox 3-3, 2B. Landon Lucas 2-4, HR. Zach Bales 2-4. Josh Cowan 2-3.