GASTON — The Blythewood 8U Coach Pitch All-Stars saw their tournament run come to a end Wednesday night, falling 4-3 to Lexington American in a game that came down to the final swing.
Blythewood spent the evening clawing back from an early four-run deficit. Lexington jumped out to a 4-0 lead through the first three innings, then the Blythewood offense began to find its rhythm. The comeback effort was fueled by a triple and a double, as the team narrowed the gap to a single run but couldn’t quite find the equalizer in the final frame.
Jimere Richardson and Spencer Jasper were the catalysts for the offense, hitting back-to-back in the lineup and each finishing with two hits. Gryce Gloss, AJ McNeil, and Hudson Smith each drove in a run to spearhead the rally.
The defense remained disciplined throughout the pressure-packed elimination game. Carver Dixon led the way in the field, recording four defensive chances.
Blythewood’s tournament journey was a roller coaster of momentum. They opened play on June 13 with a commanding 7-1 victory over Gilbert, racking up 17 hits. In that opener, Remington Surfield sparked the team with an early RBI single and finished with a double. Bo Motes turned in a perfect 2-for-2 performance with two RBIs.
Multi-hit games from Gavin Zeloof, Carter Knudson, and McNeil kept the pressure on Gilbert throughout the win. Gloss, Dixon, and Zeb Davis all tallied RBI singles, while Richardson and Cole Hudson added singles to the double-digit hit total.
The momentum slowed on June 14 during a 16-0 loss to a powerful Pineview squad. Despite the lopsided score, Jasper managed a double, while Knudson, McNeil, and Smith all recorded hits to keep the dugout engaged.
Blythewood finishes the District 4 tournament with a 1-2 record. Following the win over the All-Stars, Lexington American advanced to the championship game but fell to Pineview, who claimed the district title and will advance to the state tournament in July.