Plagued by weather issues for the past week, the Catawba Ridge Copperheads were finally able to play baseball again Friday night.
Catawba Ridge beat Greenwood 12-2 to advance to a potential doubleheader against Laurens to see who advances to the Upper State series.
Led by a strong outing from Peyton Dhein, who pitched a complete game going five innings and allowing two runs on five hits, while walking one and striking out seven, the Copperheads started strong and never looked back.
Scattering 11 hits in five innings, Catawba Ridge scored three runs in the first inning with the help of Sam Schwamb hitting a triple scoring Owen Noonan and Jackson Mullen. Schwamb would then score on a Greenwood error himself.
Catawba Ridge added four runs in the third inning all with two outs. Ethan Solnick started things off with a single, followed by a triple from Britton Nash and a double by Aiden Cattarin. Brennan Helms slashed a single and Noonan would then hit a double to put the Copperheads up 7-1.
Catawba Ridge added three more in the fourth inning on a Cattarin three-run home run and then picked up two more in the fifth on a Mullen double and a single by Solnick to enforce the mercy rule at 12-2.
The Copperheads will now travel to Laurens Saturday needing to sweep a doubleheader to advance in the playoffs. A loss would end Catawba Ridge’s season. The Copperheads are currently 25-4 on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
