A bases loaded walk-off balk gave the Catawba Ridge Copperheads a 4-3 win in eight innings over the Indian Land Warriors Friday night.
Ben Wilson and Ethan Solnick singled to start the bottom of the eighth for the Copperheads. A walk to Brennan Helms then loaded the bases before a balk with two outs ended the game.
The win allowed a series sweep of Indian Land and puts the Copperheads in good position to win the Region 3-4A title next week. Catawba Ridge improves to 11-1 in Region 3-4A and 18-2 overall on the season with the win Friday. They have one more region series next week against Northwestern.
“It was a big series obviously and we got the results we wanted,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Stas Swerdzewski. “I got a lot of respect for Indian Land. They played us tough. To come away with three wins is good, but we got a lot to improve on. We still have work left to do.”
Indian Land started strong picking up a run in the top of the first inning off a single by Alex Blanchette that set up a fielder’s choice by Cole Dombkowski driving him in.
The Copperheads were just as hot to open their part of the first inning as Sam Schwamb drove in Owen Noonan who singled to start the bottom of the first. An error by Indian Land gave the Copperheads another run giving them a 2-1 lead with two outs.
Indian Land’s James Knoll led the third inning off with a single and then stole second to give the Warriors some life. Cole Guttman reached on an error and the rally continued with a Blanchette double scoring Knoll and Guttman to give Indian Land the lead again. The rally ended as Schwamb picked off a runner stealing second and starter Jackson Mullen got a strikeout to end the top of the inning.
Catawba Ridge would get the run back in the bottom half as Peyton Dhein singled and then scored on a Wilson single.
Indian Land would threaten some, but base running errors plagued them in the fourth inning. Mullen was removed in the inning for Zack McMahon. Mullen allowed three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out five in three and two third innings.
Logan Sulli came in the game for Indian Land in the fourth and got the Copperheads out of the inning.
Indian Land got base runners on in the fifth inning as Guttman got on after getting hit by a pitch, but McMahon stayed calm under pressure and struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam.
The Warriors threatened again in the sixth inning with one out and Michael Doan at second after initially reaching on a walk, but the Copperheads’ defense came through to aid McMahon.
Both teams continued to threaten to score, but continually left runners stranded.
In the top of the seventh, McMahon was replaced with Bryce Meil. McMahon went two and a third innings allowing one walk while striking out four without giving up a hit.
Indian Land put two runners on with two outs in the seventh after a hit batter and a walk, but couldn’t get a hit to score the runner.
Another pitching change by the Warriors in the bottom of the seventh kept Catawba Ridge off balance leading to extra innings.
April 12 Roundup
The Nation Ford baseball team swept Spring Valley with a 13-4 win. The win puts them at 10-9 overall and 5-6 in Region 3-5A. Bradyn Deaton and Jacob Pettit each got two hits to lead the Falcons.
The Fort Mill baseball team swept Clover with a 4-2 win to improve to 13-5 overall and 9-1 in Region 3-5A. John Dober led with two hits for Fort Mill. Tucker Gandy got the win allowing two runs on four hits over six innings, while striking out three and walking three.
The Fort Mill softball team beat Spring Valley 10-6 to improve to 5-6 overall and 4-4 in Region 3-5A. Vicki Lott went 4-4 with two RBIs to lead the Jackets. Ashley Kirby and Brooke Rosario also had two RBIs each.
The Fort Mill boys’ soccer team beat Spring Valley 3-0 at home to improve to 7-1 in Region 3-5A and 11-5-1 overall.
The Nation Ford boys’ soccer team beat Rock Hill 1-0 at home. The win improves them to 14-5-1 overall and 5-3 in Region 3-5A.
The Nation Ford girls’ soccer team beat Rock Hill 8-0 on the road. The win improves them to 9-6 overall and 5-3 in Region 3-5A.
The Catawba Ridge boys’ soccer team got a 1-0 overtime win against Indian Land to improve to 9-0 in Region 3-4A and 15-2 overall. Micah Collins scored the game winning goal for the Copperheads.
The Catawba Ridge girls’ soccer team beat Indian Land 4-1 on the road to improve to 9-0 in Region 3-4A and 15-4 overall on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
