S.C. AMERICAN BASEBALL SUMMER LEAGUE - West Columbia blanks Rock HIll

Chapin/Newberry rallies twice to defeat Edgefield

THOMAS GRANT JR.
chroniclesports@yahoo.com
Posted 7/9/20

The disappointment of a shortened high school baseball season still resonates with West Columbia Post 79 players.

What’s now in place is excitement and optimism from a strong start in S.C. …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get 50% of all subscriptions for a limited time. Subscribe today.

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

S.C. AMERICAN BASEBALL SUMMER LEAGUE - West Columbia blanks Rock HIll

Chapin/Newberry rallies twice to defeat Edgefield

Posted

The disappointment of a shortened high school baseball season still resonates with West Columbia Post 79 players.

What’s now in place is excitement and optimism from a strong start in S.C. American Baseball Summer League play. 

Thursday’s 5-0 shutout win over Rock Hill Post 34 at Segra Park in Columbia improved West Columbia’s mark to 7-1 overall, 6-0 against league teams. West Columbia is also 3-0 in Midlands Division play.

The matchup with Rock Hill was a non-divisional game as part of the Segra Series. 

“It feels good to keep surprising teams because they come out here, a lot of times they might not throw their best pitcher, but they end up putting them in after the 1st couple of innings,” said Sam LaFrage of Airport, who had a team-high 3 hits. 

A year after finishing with a losing record, head coach Dargon Lybrand said this year’s early success has succeeded his expectations.

“Coming off a losing season last year and just wanted to be competitive and wanted to make the playoffs,” Lybrand said. “So I couldn’t be more excited with these young men how they’ve played and moving forward.” 

West Columbia’s Levi Dunn and Rock Hill’s Nick Petit waged a scoreless pitcher’s dual through 4 ½ innings. The shutout ended in the 5th when LaFrage sent a leadoff single into rightfield and scored on Dylan Johson’s 2-out single.

Dunn left the game after 5 ⅔ innings and striking out 3. 

As Alex Pegues of Pelion preserved the shutout, West Columbia added 4 runs in the bottom 6th. Pelion’s Dylan Williamson followed Kameron Dunlap’s triple with an RBI single. West Columbia loaded the bases and 2 runners scored on an RBI fielder’s choice and throwing error by Rock Hill.

West Columbia will scrimmage Columbia International University before resuming division play Wednesday against co-leader North Augusta at Midlands Sports Complex. 

“We’ve just got to keep working hard,” Lybrand said. “Keep working hard, keep pitching, getting the kids here and my job is keep them motivated. That’s what I want to do to move forward and try to get some more wins.”

Chapin/Newberry 10, Edgefield County 7

A pair of rallies sparked by Bryce Medlock’s 3 hits and 3 RBI helped Chapin/Newberry claim its 

Chapin/Newberry answered Edgefield County’s 3-run rally to open the game with 2 runs in the bottom 1st. Ryland Rychener had an RBI double and Bryce Medlock an RBI single.

Edgefield County scored 2 runs in the top 2nd. In the bottom 3rd, Chapin/Newberry began its rally with an RBI double by Jalen McDuffie, a game-tying 2-run triple by Medlock, a go-ahead RBI single by J.P. Hornick, an RBI triple by Chris Hood and RBI single by Tripp Williams.

A 2-run homer by Daniel Herlong brought Edgefield County to within 8-7 in the top 4th. Chapin/Newberry responded with 2 runs in the bottom half of the inning. Lawson Brand had an RBI double and Medlock scored on a wild pitch.

Tyler Wilson picked up the victory after 1 ⅓ innings of relief. University of South Carolina signee Cade Austin struck out 4 in shutting out Edgefield Country in the final 2 innings.

The 2 teams meet again Monday at SRP Park.

west columbia, LaFrage, Lybrand, baseball

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here