WINNSBORO – The Eagles clinched their second region title in as many years, going 6-0 in region action, 12-0 over the past two seasons, with a convincing 14-4 victory over Laurens Academy on April 4 at Laurens.
Senior pitcher Luke Martin is credited with the victory over the Crusaders while facing sixteen batters in four innings on the hill. Martin struck out six, walked two, and allowed four hits and one earned run. Junior Brandon Miller pitched one inning in relief and fanned three of the six batters he faced.
Zack Taylor (10) makes the play from shortstop in game two against the Patriots. | Martha Ladd
The Eagle offense ignited in the top of the second for six runs, and they went on to tally eight more over the next three innings to end the game early when the Crusaders could plate only four.
Martin helped himself out at the dish going 3-for-5 with a double and 1 RBI. Sophomore offensive spark plugs included Dru Caldwell who went 2-for-3 with a double and 3 RBI; Zack Taylor had a double in 3 at bats,1 RBI, and scored three runs; and John Russell went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI.
The remainder of the team’s thirteen total hits came from the bats of Miller, Cameron Bass, Austin Lancaster, Jimmy McKeown, and Preston Williams.
With the region title under their belts, Coach Paul Brigman’s Eagles returned to Billy Ladd Field to host the Wardlaw Patriots, a non-region opponent, in a double header on Monday.
Under dismal skies and threat of thunderstorms in the pending forecast, game one got underway with ace pitcher Zack Taylor on the mound. Taylor, with the help of his teammates, held the Patriots scoreless as the Eagles cranked out 13 runs to get the game one victory and improved their overall record to 12-2 with seven shutouts.
Taylor faced sixteen batters and retired eight to K’s, allowing four hits in the five inning first game. Top batters included juniors Miller and Hudson Wade, both going 3-for-3 with one double and 2 RBI. Taylor, Bass, and Will Carvalho all batted 1-for-2 to account for the team’s nine hits.
After a brief break between games, the teams took the field once more to get the second game started in spite of the drizzly conditions and swiftly changing ominous dark clouds gathering overhead.
Junior Hudson Wade got the nod to pitch game two for the Eagles. As predicted, just as Wade closed out his work on the mound in inning 2, the rain fell harder and was accompanied by thunder and lightning, and game two was called. Neither team had scored at this point.
Richard Winn traveled to York Prep and Northside Christian on Wednesday and Thursday, but no results were available prior to press release.
During spring break week, the Eagles will be competing in the Mingo Bay Classic tournament at Georgetown High School where they’ll compete against Great Falls HS, Buckhannon Upshur of WV, and Lewisville HS.
Other notes of interest for Eagle fans: Though the season is still underway, the middle school team has clinched the region championship with a current record of 12-0 for the second year in a row. The RWA Alumni Baseball game is on the calendar for May 4. Interested alumni should contact Cal Caldwell – caldwell.cal@gmail.com.