INDIAN LAND – In a winner take all game, the Catawba Ridge Copperheads baseball team punched their ticket to the 5A Division II state championship.
The Copperheads beat Indian Land 7-1 on Saturday, May 24 in game three of their series to win the Upper State title improving to 23-9-1 on the season.
“I am so proud of this group,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Stas Swerdzewski. “We have had our ups and downs, especially offensively. But to keep believing in ourselves and stay the course and be relentless. I am very proud of this group.”
Catawba Ridge will now face the Berkeley Stags in a three-game series for the state title starting Tuesday, May 27 in Berkeley. Game two of the series is schedule for Catawba Ridge on Friday, May 30 because the Stags have graduation on Thursday, May 29. Game three would be at a neutral site if needed on Saturday, May 31. The Stags are 20-10 and on a nine-game win streak through the playoffs.
“Sounds like they are similar to us,” Swerdzewski said. “They are hot right now. We are hot right now.”
Catawba Ridge started well as Jack Provenzano led the game off with a single in the top of the first inning, but that’s all the Copperheads could get to open the game.
Indian Land was just as hot as Johnny Compton double and Alex Blanchette drove him in to give the Warriors a 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
In the bottom of the second, James Knoll and Michael Down singled for Indian Land, but they were left stranded as the Warriors couldn’t get the runs they needed.
Catawba Ridge took advantage of Warriors starter Blanchette in the top of the third. Caden Howard, Provenzano and Sam Schwamb all singled to open the inning. Copperheads’ starter Bryce Meil walked allowing the first run for Catawba Ridge and tying the game at one.
Both pitchers settled in with their game and was able to cruise through the fourth inning. Howard hit an infield single to start the fifth inning. Schwamb singled to get runners on the corners with one out. That led to Michael Doan coming into pitch for Indian Land.
Howard scored on a sacrifice bunt by Britton Nash. Meil was intentionally walked to load the bases. A throwing error on a pickoff play that went into the Catawba Ridge dugout allowed a run to score and then a dropped third strike led to another run as the Copperheads went up 4-1.
After a scoreless bottom of the fifth for Indian Land, the Copperheads started the sixth off with a double by Tyler Causey. Howard drove in courtesy runner Gavin Oberg with one out to extend the Catawba Ridge lead.
Indian Land threatened some in the bottom of the sixth as Compton walked and a Blanchette singled, but Meil was able to work out of the jam.
In the top of the seventh, Meil singled to open the inning. Ethan Solnick singled and reached third on a two-base error by the Warriors as courtesy runner Cal Arant scored. Causey drove in Solnick to put the Copperheads up 7-1.
Meil pitched a complete game throwing 88 pitches, 61 of them for strikes. He allowed one run on six hits, while walking two and striking out five.
At the plate, Provenzano and Howard both went 3-4 as the Copperheads scattered a dozen hits. Schwamb and Causey each had two hits as well.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
