BLYTHEWOOD – The Westwood baseball team (3-14) closed out a difficult season on a high note. After topping Richland Northeast 5-2 April 29, the Redhawks followed up with a 6-5 victory over Fairfield Central Thursday.
With the score tied at 3 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, Westwood scored two critical runs. John Janco led off the inning by reaching base on a fielding error in right field and making second. With Sam Williams in as a courtesy runner at second, Liam Ginnery walked up to the plate and sent the ball right back to right field. Janco scored easily and Ginnery reached third safely for a triple.
Later, with one out, Zach Gore drove in Ginnery on a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3 Redhawks.
Fairfield Central got a run in the top of the sixth. With Jalen Jackson at third and Jonathan Warren at second with one out, Adam Gonzalez grounded out, but it was enough to get Jackson home to make it 5-4. Ruben Mack flied out to Donnie Weston in centerfield for the final out.
Westwood got that run back in the bottom of the sixth. With Brandon Grindstaff at third and Sheldon Cooke at second, Weston hit a sacrifice fly to bring Grindstaff home to make it 6-4.
The Griffins still looked to rally in the top of the seventh. Kelton Mobley led off the inning with a single, moved to second and then third on Janco’s error, and came home on Cailen Gadsen’s single up the middle.
Just as Fairfield Central was climbing back into the game, the Westwood defense shut the Griffins down.
Chazi Jones hit into a fielder’s choice for the first out, taking Gadsen off the bases. Jones later took himself off the bases when Gore fired the ball to Grindstaff at second to pick him off as Blake Gambrell batted. Gambrell then grounded out to end the game.
Fairfield Central’s 5-3 conference record puts them at second in region standings behind Mid-Carolina. They are scheduled to open post-season play on Friday.
Westwood 6, Fairfield Cetnral 5
Fairfield Central – 2-0-1-0-0-1-1 – 5, 8, 3
Westwood – 1-0-2-0-2-1-X – 6, 4, 3
WP: John Janco. LP: Shykein Holmes.
Hitters: FC –Jalen Jackson 2-2. Cailen Gadsen 2-3. Chazi Jones 3B. W – Liam Ginnery 2-2, 2B, 3B.
