A walk-off sacrifice fly by the Weddington Warriors propelled them to beat the Nation Ford Falcons baseball team in extra innings on day two of the Rescue Lock and Key Spring Break Invitational.
Weddington won 7-6 in eight innings as they dropped Nation Ford to 11-11 overall on the season.
The Falcons gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases before a sacrifice fly from the Warriors scored the winning run. Despite being the host school, Nation Ford was listed as the visiting team against the Warriors.
Ben Chuttey opened the game in the top of the first with a single and Justin Brink singled. However, Weddington got out of the inning quickly turning a 1-4 triple play.
Weddington scored in the bottom of the first with the help of a hit batter, a walk and then a single. A double by the Warriors scored another run to put Weddington up 2-0.
Simon Fernandez started the second inning off with a single, followed by a walk to Alex Smith. Lawson Smith walked to load the bases. Carson Krueger drove in Fernandez to put Nation Ford on the board. The lone run was all the Falcons could muster in the inning.
Weddington kept their bats going in the bottom of the second as they scored two runs on four hits.
In the top of the third, Brink got hit by a pitch and Cooper Mitchell singled. Fernandez loaded the bases on a single with one out. Alex Smith then drove in Brink and Mitchell on a single before getting gunned out at second.
After a pitching change, Fernandez scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at four.
Weddington got two runners on in the bottom of the third before Jackson Childs was replaced on the mound by Cooper Mitchell. A passed ball put runners in scoring position, leading to a sacrifice fly. A wild pitch scored the other runner on base leading to a 6-4 Weddington lead. Childs final line read as such – two and a third innings, five runs on seven hits, one walk and one strikeout.
The fourth inning was a wash for both teams in more than one way as play was stopped for an hour and 45 minutes due to rain and lightning.
The fifth inning was like the fourth for both despite Weddington getting one on with a single.
In the top of the sixth, Alex Smith started the inning with a single for Nation Ford. Childs singled Alex Smith to third and an error scored Smith to cut into the Warriors lead. A second consecutive throwing error moved Lawson Smith, who reached on an error, from first to third. Krueger tied the game on an RBI fielder’s choice.
Weddington had a runner reach on an error and then walked a batter with one out. A fielder’s choice put runners on the corners for the Warriors with two outs. Mitchell was able to get out of the jam without allowing a run.
Neither team could find the plate in the seventh inning pushing the game to extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, Alex Smith was hit by a pitch and then stole second and third base. But Weddington would get a double play to get out of the inning without allowing a run.
Fernandez and Alex Smith each had two hits in the game and Smith had two RBIs. Mitchell went five innings allowing just one run on four hits, while walking four and striking out three.
April 22 Roundup
The Fort Mill baseball team dropped a 10-9 game to Watauga down at Myrtle Beach. The Jackets made five early errors in the game. JB Walters went 2-4 with three RBIs. Fort Mill is now 16-5 overall on the season.
The Catawba Ridge baseball team improved to 15-7-1 overall with a 7-1 win over Lugoff-Egin on the road. Ethan Solnick went 2-4 with three RBIs to lead at the plate. Britton Nash and Sam Schwamb each had two hits as well and Schwamb had two RBIs in the win.
The Catawba Ridge girls’ lacrosse team opened the 5A Division II playoffs with a win over Greenville 15-7 to move onto the second round where they will face TL Hanna on Friday, April 25. Catawba Ridge improved to 10-6 on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
