Catawba Ridge head coach Stas Swerdzewski says his team is used to generating big game three performances this season.
Playing well in one game, struggling in another, needing a clutch winner-takes-all performance in the rubber match.
On Saturday, the Copperheads will complete in the most important game three of the season. Catawba Ridge fell to Indian Land 4-2 at home Thursday night in the middle game of the Class 5A Division II Upper State championship series.
The Copperheads had a chance to pull off a remarkable late comeback. Down two runs with runners on first and third, Jack Shelnutt flew out to center field, and Jack Provenzano struck out looking. Indian Land will now host the deciding game three at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 24.
Swerdzewski said his team had chances in the sixth and seventh innings but ultimately told them that games can also be lost early.
“We didn’t have good at-bats early on,” he said. “Give credit to their pitcher, but I thought we had uncompetitive at-bats for the first three innings. We found our groove and had some chances. But when it comes down to it, games can be lost early, and it put us in a hole.”
Indian Land will now host Catawba Ridge, who dropped to 22-9-1, in game three to decide who will play either Berkeley High School in the state championship series. Catawba Ridge won Game 1 in Indian Land on Tuesday, thanks to a complete game performance by Caden Glauber.
Pitcher Quinn Clouden started on the bump Thursday evening for Catawba Ridge and was relieved by Zack McMahon, Britton Nash, and Zac Young.
Swerdzewski said he planned to use several pitchers to keep Indian Land off balance. Ultimately, the Warriors made plays when it counted to tie the series.
Following three scoreless innings, Indian Land finally opened the scoring with Cole Gutmann’s sacrifice fly that allowed Johnny Compton to run home from third.
Catawba Ridge quickly answered the run with one of its own – Bryce Meil smacked a hit to left center, and the Warriors’ outfielder couldn’t make the grab in time, allowing Sam Schwamb to score from second base and tie the game at 1-1.
The visitors tacked on two more runs in the sixth. Gutmann hit a second sac fly to left center, scoring Alex Blanchette. Two batters later, James Knoll’s hit to shallow third allowed Cole Dombkowski to score from second base – Catawba Ridge’s third baseman threw to first base, but the throw pulled the fielder off the bag, allowing Dombkowski to advance.
Jack Provenzano hit a double in the bottom of the sixth for Catawba Ridge, and he moved to third base on a wild pitch, but Ethan Solnick struck out, while Sam Schwamb and Britton Nash both flew out to strand Provenzano and end the inning.
Compton then hit a sac fly to left field, allowing Cooper Armstrong to score for Indian Land in the top of the seventh inning
Down 4-1, Catawba Ridge tried to muster up as much momentum as possible. Caden Glauber ripped a hard sac fly to right center, allowing Meil to score to cut the lead to 4-2.
With runners on first and third, Jack Shellnut and Provenzano both worked the pitcher until full count, but Shelnutt was caught out and Provenzano struck out to end what could have been an exciting comeback in front of a packed Catawba Ridge stadium.
Indian Land pitcher Liam Roberson pitched a complete game in the win striking out eight in the process.
“We had some chances, the runner on third with nobody out in the sixth and not getting across, and then in the seventh, we had an opportunity,” Swerdzewski said. “You’ve got to tip your cap to (Roberson).”
The Catawba Ridge coach said playing the best two out of three in the region helped prepare his team for this scenario. He said pitching depth allows the best teams to compete.
“This is nothing new to us,” he said.
