COLUMBIA – Fairfield Central’s baseball team controlled their Tuesday night game against C.A. Johnson from their first at bat.
The Griffins took a one run lead in the top of the first. Jonathan Warren reached base on a fielding error to lead off the game, then stole second. A sacrifice fly to right by Blake Gambrell plated the Griffins’s first run of the night.
Graeme Douglas and the Griffins made quick work of Green Hornets, and Fairfield was back at the plate after three batters.
Curtis Sampson led off the second with a single to left field and advanced to second on the throw. Sampson moved to third on a fly out. Joe Tolbert walked to put runners on first and third. A fielder’s choice by Rylan Woodard scored Sampson and put Tolbert on second. NygelWoodard singled on a bunt to the pitcher, loading the bases. Warren walked to score Tolbert, then a Cialen Gadson single scored Rylan Woodard. Nygel Woodard was tagged out stealing home and a fly out ended the inning with Fairfield up 4-0.
The Griffins added another run in the top of the fourth. Nygel Woodard singled on a line drive to center, then scored off of Warren’s double to left. CA Johnson trailed 0-5 heading to the plate.
The Green Hornet had perhaps their best chance to get on the board when their catcher doubled to center, but was caught stealing third. Douglas struck out two to stifle the Johnson scoring hopes in the bottom of the fourth.
Fairfield added three more runs in the top of the seventh to extend the lead to 7-0.
Warren walked to lead off the inning. T Grier, courtesy runner for Warren, stole second. With one out, Grier scored on a single to left by Gambrell. Gambrell stole second. LJ Holley drew a walk to put runners on the corners, then stole second and Gambrell scores on a steal of home. Holley steals third, then scores on a passed ball to put Fairfield up 8-0. A strikeout ends the inning.
Kelton Mobley, in to close the game in the seventh, struck out the Johnson side to end the game.
Douglas picked up the win for Fairfield. He struck out 11 of 20 batters faced in six innings of work. He threw 51 strikes of 77 pitches, allowed three hits, walked one.
The Griffins used their speed and smart base play to tally 13 steals against the Green Hornets.
Nygel Woodard went 2-3 on the night. Warren had a double and two RBIs. Gambrell also tallied 2 RBIs. Rylan Woodard and Gadson had an RBI each.
The Griffins will host Keenan tonight at 7:30, then will face Chester at home on Tuesday.
FCHS – 1-3-0-1-0-0-3 – 8, 7, 0
CAJ – 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 – 0, 3, 3
WP: Douglas. LP: Moore.
HITTERS: FC– Warren 1-2,(2B, 1RBI); Gadson 1-4 (1RBI); Gambrell 1-3 (2RBI); Sampson 1-4; R Woodard 1-3 (1RBI); N Woodard 2-3.