A late inning rally by the TL Hanna Yellow Jackets in the sixth inning forced a decisive game on Saturday for the District 2 baseball championship.
The Yellow Jackets beat Catawba Ridge 4-3 on Friday, May 16. The loss dropped the Copperheads to 20-8-1 on the season.
Ethan Solnick and Sam Schwamb both singled to start the first inning. That put runners on the corners as Britton Nash drove in a run on a sacrifice to give the Copperheads an early 1-0 lead.
The Yellow Jackets threatened in the top of the second after a hit batter and a walk put two on base without an out. Catawba Ridge starter Quinn Clouden would load the bases with a walk and the Jackets tied the game with a one out single. A fielder’s choice put them ahead 2-1 before the Copperheads could get out of the inning.
Catawba Ridge wasn’t able to make anything happen in the bottom of the second as the Jackets held the lead going to the third inning.
Jack Shelnutt walked to start the bottom half of the inning. Jack Provenzano singled and Shelnutt was driven in by a single from Ethan Solnick to tie the game at two.
Clouden was replaced entering the fourth inning by Zac Young. Clouden allowed two runs on one hit and walked three.
Young gave up a single and hit a batter to put two runners on in the fourth. He was able to work out of the jam without allowing a run.
In the bottom of the fourth, Glauber walked and Bryce Meil had a near perfect infield bunt to put two Copperheads on with no outs. Jackson Shiplett singled in Glauber putting Catawba Ridge ahead 3-2.
The Jackets put two on in the fifth with no outs, but Catawba Ridge used an inning ending double play to get out of trouble.
Young was replaced on the mound in the sixth inning after giving up a leadoff walk. Young went two innings allowing three hits while walking one and striking out three. He was replaced by Britton Nash, who hit the first batter he faced. An infield single then loaded the bases with Yellow Jackets. A one out single up the middle put TL Hanna up 4-3 as it scored two runs. Nash was able to shake it off and get out of the inning without allowing another run.
In the bottom of the sixth, both Shiplett and Shelnutt singled with two outs, but the Copperheads couldn’t score a run.
Nash was replaced in the seventh inning by Alex Downes on the mound. TL Hanna threatened in the top of the seventh, but the Copperheads held strong without allowing the Jackets to extend their lead.
May 16 Roundup
In scores from Thursday, May 15, both Fort Mill baseball and Nation Ford softball were eliminated from the playoffs.
The only team that advanced was the Catawba Ridge softball team as they beat Indian Land 8-1 in the District I championship. Sarah Rocheleau and Mia Kovacs both had two RBIs in the win. Keira O’Brien pitched seven innings allowing one run on three hits, without allowing a walk while striking out nine. Catawba Ridge opens the Upper State championship series next week against Woodmont. The Copperheads are now 27-2 on the season.
The Nation Ford softball team fell to Woodmont in the District 2 championship by a score of 5-4. Nation Ford finished their season at 17-10 overall. Makayla Bess led the Falcons at the plate going 2-3 with three RBIs. Woodmont scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to grab a 5-4 lead before winning.
The Fort Mill baseball team fell to Easley 7-6 in the District I playoffs. The loss ends the Jackets season at 19-8 overall. Andrew Craddock went 2-3 with two RBIs and Brent Laughter went 2-4 with an RBI. Carter Blankinship had two RBIs as well in the loss for Fort Mill.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
