BLYTHEWOOD – Getting runs across was an issue with the Blythewood baseball team in a 6-2 loss at Rock Hill April 10. When the Bengals hosted the Bearcats Friday night at Bengals Park, driving in runs was not a problem.
Blythewood overcame a 2-0 deficit, then Landon Penfield drove in three runs with a sixth-inning triple to boost the Bengals to a 7-3 victory.
“We’re not doing a really good job right now with runners in scoring position,” Blythewood head coach Travis Poole said.
The Bengals (16-6, 9-3 Region 3-5A) left six runners on base, four in scoring position, and in the second inning had the bases loaded with one out but failed to get a runner across.
“We’re just not getting that timely hit when we need it right now and that’s something that we’ve really got to focus on going forward,” Poole added.
Blythewood starting pitcher Sammy Franklin gave up two runs on three hits in the top of the first inning, but settled down and pitched three scoreless innings before Jackson Bottar came on the mound in the fifth inning. Franklin worked four-plus innings and gave up three runs on five hits. He struck out two and walked two.
Bottar pitched three full innings of no-hit ball, but gave up a run in the sixth inning when courtesy runner Max Sharp, running for catcher Jayden Surratt, stole home. Bottar walked one and hit one batter.
While Rock Hill held a 2-0 advantage, Blythewood started cutting into it quickly.
Alex Myers led off the bottom of the first with a single, and
made it to third base after Franklin’s fly out and Penfield’s ground out. Macon
Leppert’s 2-out single drove Myers home.
Harrison Collins also singled, but Bottar grounded out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the third Leppert led off with a single, and courtesy runner Eli Marsha was at third after Collins’ sacrifice bunt and Bottar’s ground out.
Marsha scored on a passed ball as Amare Counts batted to tie the game at 2, but Counts struck out to retire the side.
The Bengals took a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning, which featured no hits, a walk, two passed balls, and an error.
C.J. Johnson drew a walk, moved to second on a passed ball, and took third when Watts reached base on a fielder’s choice.
With Myers at bat, Johnson at third and Watts at first, Johnson scored on another passed ball and Watts took second on the play. Myers lined out to shortstop Mason Mackay, but Mackay tried to get Watts out as he was going to third.
Mackay’s throw went into foul territory, and Watts got up and ran safely home for the second run.
Franklin flied out and Penfield struck out to end the inning.
Those instances of seeing innings cut short in mid-rally are what frustrates Coach Poole.
“I’ve always said in this game, you need to be making routine plays, throwing strikes, and getting timely hitting,” he said. “And right now, we’re not getting the timely hitting.”
Max Sharpe stole home for Rock Hill in the top of the sixth inning to cut Blythewood’s lead to 4-3, but the Bengals did have one instance of a very timely hit in the bottom of the sixth.
In that inning Counts and Watts singled to put two runners on base with one out, and Myers was safe on a bunt to load the bases. Franklin struck out for the second out, but Penfield worked a 3-2 count and lined a triple into the rightfield corner to score all three runs.
In Monday’s game at Spring Valley, Johnson, Leppert and Watts each homered in an 8-3 victory. Johnson had two hits and three RBI, Watts had two hits and two RBI, and Leppert drove in two runs as well for the Bengals.
Blythewood played at home against the Vikings Wednesday and goes back to Spring Valley Friday.
April 10
Blythewood – 0-0-1-1-0-0-0 – 2, 10, 0
Rock Hill – 1-3-0-0-2-0-X – 6, 8, 1
WP: Cole Canty.
Hitters: B – Amare Counts 3-4. Jackson Bottar 2-4. Macon Leppert 2B.
Friday
Rock Hill – 2-0-0-0-0-1-0 – 3, 5, 2
Blythewood – 1-0-1-2-0-3-X – 7, 9, 0
WP: Sammy Franklin.
Hitters: B – Alex Myers 3-4. Macon Leppert 2-4. Landon Penfield 3B, 3RBI.
Monday
Blythewood – 0-2-0-0-3-1-2 – 8, 6, 2
Spring Valley – 0-1-2-0-0-0-0 – 3, 4, 2
WP: Lucas Defee
Hitters: B – C Johnson 2-4, HR, 3RBI. Ryan Watts 2-3, HR, 2 RBI. Macon Leppert HR, 2 RBI.
