WINNSBORO – The return from an almost 10-day break from games was somewhat of a rollercoaster for Richard WInn baseball.
After their two-game win against Fairfield Central April 6-7, the Eagles returned to play on Thursday, April 16 at Ben Lippen School.
Despite out-hitting the Falcons 7-4, Richard Winn couldn’t quite overcome a late-inning surge, falling 5-3.
The Eagles struck first in the opening frame with Johnathan Bonds doubling home two runs to give Richard Winn an early 2-0 cushion. The Falcons manufactured a run in the third to tie the game before pulling ahead in the fourth.
A bases-loaded walk by Ben Lippen’s Ford Crane followed by a two-run double from Grant Shaw proved to be the difference, extending the Falcons’ lead to 5-2.
Dylan Albert led the Eagles’ offense with a two-hit afternoon, while Bonds went 1-for-1 with two RBIs. On the mound, Bonds started the game, giving up two runs over three innings. Walker Blackwelder took the loss in relief, surrendering one earned run over two innings while striking out four.
While the Eagles found plenty of gaps in the outfield, the Falcons played “small ball” to perfection, stealing five bases and committing zero errors to secure the win.
On Tuesday, Bonds led a class in two-way baseball, leading the Eagles to a 7-1 victory over Wardlaw Academy in the Region Tournament championship game.
Bonds was virtually untouchable on the mound, tossing a complete seven-inning game. He surrendered just two hits and one run while fanning 11 batters and walking none.
He was just as dangerous at the plate, driving in five of the Eagles’ seven runs. Richard Winn jumped out to an early lead in the first when Bonds laced a double to score two. He struck again in the fourth, clearing the bases with a clutch triple to push the lead to 7-1.
Bennett Nicholson and Mason Patrick joined Bonds in the multi-hit club, each collecting two hits as part of a seven-hit Eagle attack. The Richard Winn defense remained sharp throughout, turning two double plays to stifle any hope of a Wardlaw comeback.
The win cemented the Eagles’ standing atop the region.
Now 9-7 on the season, the Eagles look to carry the momentum into the SCISA playoffs, which begin April 28. They await seeding.