By CINDY CROSBY
Cindyc4@yahoo.com
The Colleton County Cougar Varsity baseball team earned their first Region VII-AAAA win of the season in an on-the-road game against Bluffton High School (7-1) on Wednesday, April 7.
Earlier in the week, the Cougars lost to the Bobcats by a run (8-7). To finish out the week, the Cougars lost a close game (8-7) to non-region opponent Oceanside Collegiate Academy.
Playing at home against Bluffton on Monday April 5, CCHS’s Warren Hunter earned the start allowing two earned runs on five hits, striking out three and issuing five walks. Cohen Crosby closed, allowing no earned runs on two hits, striking out two. Ben Kennedy was 2-3 with 3-RBI’s. Michael Ortiz, Jackson Bell, Cameron Farnsworth, and JC Poe had multiple hits in the game.
“We swung the bats fairly well,” said CCHS Varsity Baseball Coach Jermale Paige. “Our defense struggled a bit in the top of the fourth inning leading to six runs for Bluffton. Even though we were down by five after that inning the guys fought and clawed their way back into the game. Unfortunately, we could not get the tying run in.”
In the win over Bluffton in game two, the Cougars scored five runs in the third inning then added two more in the fourth. Dustin Hadwin went five innings, allowing one earned run on two hits, striking out two and issuing one walk. Dakota Dandridge closed, allowing no hits while striking out one. Poe was 3-4 and scored twice. Jackson Bell was 2-2 with an RBI and Bruce Carpenter was 2-4 and scored twice. Ortiz and Grayson Cromer had a hit each.
“This was our best game of the year,” said Paige. “The guys came out there with a mindset to win, and that is just what happened. Dustin Hadwin pitched a phenomenal game only giving up one run. Dakota Dandridge did a good job by coming in and closing the door. The guys made great plays defensively and they just had fun out there. We had a huge 5-run third inning that pretty much set the tone for the remainder of the game. After that there was no looking from the guys. Bruce Carpenter made a great catch in right field.”
Colleton County lost the lead late in the top of the eight against Oceanside Collegiate Academy.
Gabe Wolf started for the Cougars and allowed one earned run on two hits, striking out one and issuing one walk across four innings. Dakota Dandridge pitched four innings, allowing six earned runs on nine hits, striking out one and issuing one walk. Poe was 2-4 with an RBI and scored twice. Ortiz, Bell, Kennedy, Farnsworth, Cromer, and Carpenter each had a hit.
“This was a tough loss because the guys played well against a pretty good team as Oceanside is ranked No. 3 in the AAA,” said Paige. “Gabe Wolfe pitched well, keeping their guys off balance for four innings, only giving up two runs. Our guys swung the bats well, unfortunately Oceanside out swung us. We were up in the top seventh by a score of 7-4, then Oceanside scored three runs to tie the game and force extra innings. They scored one run in the top of the eighth and we were not able to answer. Oceanside just beat us with the bats – plain and simple. Our guys did not make any errors in the late innings.
“If you have to lose a game, you make a team beat you with the bat. Yes, it is a tough loss, but that’s just the game of baseball.”
“We had a solid week,” said Paige. “It’s been one of our best weeks in a while. We went 1-2 over the course of this week, but our record could have very well been 3-0. I am proud of the way the guys competed.”
