S.C. AMERICAN BASEBALL SUMMER LEAGUE - West Columbia upends undefeated Greer in tournament opener

Fort Mill to face West Columbia Saturday for berth in final

THOMAS GRANT JR.
chroniclesports@yahoo.com
Posted 8/14/20

West Columbia Post 79 is 2 victories shy of claiming the S.C. American Baseball Summer League title.

Friday’s 12-8 victory over previously undefeated Greer Warhawks in the opening round of the …

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S.C. AMERICAN BASEBALL SUMMER LEAGUE - West Columbia upends undefeated Greer in tournament opener

Fort Mill to face West Columbia Saturday for berth in final

Posted

West Columbia Post 79 is 2 victories shy of claiming the S.C. American Baseball Summer League title.

Friday’s 12-8 victory over previously undefeated Greer Warhawks in the opening round of the state tournament at Segra Park was the 1st step towards that goal. 

Trailing early, Post 79 (15-2-1) rallied to advance to Saturday’s winner’s bracket matchup with Fort Mill and sent last year’s American Legion champions into an elimination game at 10:05 am against Sumter Post 15. 

“I believe in these kids,” West Columbia head coach Dargan Lybrand said. “I’m so proud of them once again. We have a scrappy group. We got outhit. We know we’re out of pitching, so we’re just scrapping and doing the best we can.” 

Pitcher Alex Pegues of Pelion relieved Reigns Lybrand in the Bottom 1st with West Columbia down 2-1, the bases loaded and no outs. He gave up 2 runs on a fielding error by Blake Palyok and double play, but helped settle West Columbia with 7 strikeouts and allowing just 1 run over the next 5 innings. 

West Columbia answered Greer’s 4-run rally with 1 of its own in the top of the 2nd. Landon Lucas’ bases clearing double drove in 2 runs and saw another score on a throwing error to give Post 79 a 5-4 lead.

“It was good my team staying behind me, kept hitting the ball and putting runs on the ball and made it easier for me on the mound,” Pegues said. 

Clay Wilson’s RBI single for Greer (14-1) tied the game at 5-5. An RBI fielder’s choice by Lybrand in the 3rd gave West Columbia a 6-5 lead. Post 79 did not trail again as it added 2 runs in the 4th as Lucas scored on a wild pitch and Dylan Williamson of Pelion stole home on a double steal.

Jeffrey Highsmith’s RBI double in the bottom of the 5th brought Greer to within 8-6. Joshua Wise then scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by Lybrand in the 6th to make it 9-6. 

With 2 outs, Greer battled back in the bottom half of the inning against reliever Simms Owens. Caden Grice hit a double to leftfield to score Collin Fowler. 

The next batter, Brody Fowler, sent a flyball to rightfield which Wise appeared to have caught for the 3rd out. Before Wise left his position, the ball fell out of his glove. 

The 1st base umpire immediately called it a live ball, allowing Grice to score and make it 9-8.

Wise got a 2nd chance at ending the inning. He caught a flyball from Truman Roper and held his glove in the air with the ball for 3 seconds for the umpire to see.

After Williamson’s sacrifice fly made it 10-8, Wise redeemed himself again with a 2-run single.

“I just knew when I came back up to the plate I’d make up for it,” Wise said. “So I just found a good pitch to hit and put up some runs.” 

The runs proved valuable as Greer put 2 baserunners aboard with 2 outs. 

Owens closed out the game by fanning a swinging Collin Fowler on a 3-2 pitch. 

Fort Mill 3, Sumter 0

It was a “be-deviling” day for Sumter pitcher Dustin Kennedy.

His pitching line read 6-6-6 Friday afternoon. He allowed 6 hits and struck out 6 batters in 6 innings of work.

Fort Mill counterpart Trevor Krupke allowed 5 hits and struck out 4 as he and Kennedy waged a scoreless pitching dual through 4 innings. 

In the bottom of the 5th, Patrick Matthews broke through against Kennedy with an RBI single to score Jacob Holliday. Fort Mill (15-2) added to its lead with an RBI single by Nic Curtis and RBI sacrifice bunt by A.J. Jaworowski. 

Dusty Sanderlin pitched a scoreless bottom of the 7th to preserve the shutout. Fort Mill is seeking to return to the state tournament final for the 2nd straight year. 

SATURDAY’S S.C. AMERICAN BASEBALL SUMMER LEAGUE SCHEDULE

Sumter Post 15 vs. Greer Warhawks 10:05 am

West Columbia Post 79 vs. Fort Mill Post 43 12:30 pm

Sumter/Greer winner vs. West Columbia/Fort Mill loser 3:05 pm

west columbia, baseball

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