The Blythewood Bengals baseball team (12-2, 6-0) continued their winning ways this week with three wins to remain undefeated in Region IV-4A play. It started with an 11-0 shutout win over the second place team in the region, the Cavaliers of Richland Northeast (6-5, 4-2), on March 26. Blythewood senior Andrew Beckwith started the game on the mound and pitched a complete-game no hitter. Then the very next night, the Bengals traveled to Rock Hill (3-9, 2-5) and beat the Bearcats 8-1. The week wrapped up with the Bengals returning home and defending their turf with an 8-1 victory over Irmo (1-8, 1-5) to complete the season sweep of the Yellow Jackets. In three consecutive nights of baseball, Blythewood outscored their opponents by a combined score of 27-2 and the Bengals’ pitching staff had allowed just two runs while walking only three batters. Blythewood head coach Barry Mizzell was proud of his team’s effort throughout the week.
“Those were three big wins for us,” Mizzell said. “We got what we’ve got most of the season; we continued to get excellent pitching and played spotless defense.”
Senior right-handed hurler Zack Hamilton earned the win for the Bengals against Irmo and for his second straight outing was up around 100 pitches for the night. Hamilton retired 18 of the 21 batters he faced, striking out nine while allowing just two hits and giving up one walk in six innings of work. Blythewood relief pitcher Jacob Davis came into the game in the seventh inning and completed the win with a three up-three down inning. Davis needed only 10 pitches to strike out two hitters and get the three outs for the Bengals seventh straight win. With the win, Hamilton improved his record to 5-0 with 29 and two-thirds innings pitched, allowing just 13 hits, six walks and 39 strikeouts.
Aaron Dahm, Beckwith and Thomas Bessinger accounted for five of the Bengals eight runs against Irmo. The number one, two and three hitters respectively went a combined 8-for-12 at the plate. Dahm and Beckwith each picked up three singles while Bessinger picked up a single and a triple. Blythewood was aggressive on the bases, perfect on all five of their stolen base attempts. Rickey Kernan swiped three bags while Dahm and Bessinger each stole one.
The Bengals will now turn their attention to the S.C. Diamond Invitational at Blythewood High School with their next game today (April 4) at 7:30 p.m. against Hammond. Blythewood hosts Wren High School in the Friday night (April 5) nightcap at 8 p.m. and plays Wesleyan Christian Saturday at 1 p.m. The tournament championship game will be held Sunday at 1:30 p.m. After spring break, Blythewood will return to region play with a home game against Spring Valley on April 9 with first pitch at 6:30 p.m.