A walk-off dribbler of a hit by Ethan Solnick gave the Catawba Ridge Copperheads baseball team a win over the Rock Hill Bearcats.
The single by Solnick gave Catawba Ridge a 5-4 win in eight innings as they took game one of their three game series. The win puts the Copperheads at 12-9 on the season and 7-6 in Region 3-5A.
“When you lose seven in a row, you will take them any way you can get them,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Stas Swerdzewski. “I am proud of this team for fighting. We have had a rough slide. It is about trying to grind it out and get some momentum during playoff time. I still believe that this team has shown flashes, when they are playing well, that they can beat anybody. We have to do the small things better and we will have better results.”
Catawba Ridge starter Ryan Cunnyngham started well in the opening inning, but the Copperheads couldn’t give him any run support in the bottom of the inning despite getting two runners on base.
Quinn Clouden walked to start the bottom of the second, but again the Copperheads left runners on base to end the inning.
Rock Hill struck first in the top of the third inning. A one out walk and back-to-back singles scored two runs for the Bearcats.
In the bottom of the third inning, James Carlin doubled and Jack Shelnutt walked to give Catawba Ridge a chance with no outs, but the Copperheads again struggled to get a timely hit to score a run.
Cunnyngham regrouped in the top of the fourth and struck out three in the inning and walked one holding the Bearcats at bay. In the bottom of the inning, Bryce Meil walked for Catawba Ridge their only base runner of the inning.
The Copperheads finally got on the board in the fifth inning. Brayden Hughes singled to start their half of the inning. Walks to Shelnutt and Solnick loaded the bases before a walk to Meil scored a Catawba Ridge run.
The Copperheads continued to make contact, but struggled with consistency at the plate to find hits.
Cunnyngham came out of the game after the sixth inning allowing two runs on six hits, while walking two and striking out nine.
Rock Hill tacked on a third run in the top of the seventh inning with two outs. A Copperheads error in the inning added another Bearcats run to make it 4-1.
The Copperheads continued to battle as Shelnutt singled in the bottom of the seventh inning with one out and Jack Provenzano walked. A Rock Hill error later in the inning gave Catawba Ridge a second run. Cunnyngham would single in Provenzano to keep the bases loaded. Clouden tied the game with a sacrifice fly as the game would go to extra innings.
Cole Stukitz came in to pitch for the Copperheads in the eighth inning. Solnick went 2-3 and Carlin went 2-4 in the game to lead Catawba Ridge.
Game two in the series is Wednesday, April 22 at Rock Hill High.
April 20 Roundup
The Nation Ford baseball team no-hit Clover in game one of their series. The Falcons won 4-0 in eight innings with Carter Powell getting the win striking out 11 in seven innings of work. Gray Kneidel finished the game throwing one inning of no-hit ball. Nation Ford is now 15-6 overall and 9-4 in Region 3-5A.
The Fort Mill baseball team dropped game one of their series with Indian Land 9-0. The Jackets for just four hits in the game as they fall to 10-11 on the season and 6-6 in Region 3-5A.
The Catawba Ridge girls’ lacrosse fell to the South Charlotte Thunder 24-9 to fall to 3-11 overall on the year.
The Fort Mill girls’ lacrosse beat Charlotte Christian 14-7 improving to 10-4 on the season.
The Nation Ford girls’ lacrosse team beat Indian Land 23-4 to finish the regular season at 11-5 overall and 5-3 in Region 3-5A.
The Nation Ford boys’ lacrosse team fell to Christ the King 8-7 to drop to 7-9 on the season.
The Catawba Ridge boys’ golf team beat York 157-187 at Fort Mill Golf Club. Niam Sethi led with an even par 36 for the Copperheads. Muller Otto and Roman Vasicko both shot a 40 and Christian Mangual shot a 41 to finish the scoring.
The Nation Ford boys’ golf team beat Northwestern 163-170. Carter Smith shot a 39 to lead the Falcons. Cameron Cox followed that with a 40 and both Stephen Deaton and Hunter Ventimiglia both shot a 42 for Nation Ford.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
