By CINDY CROSBY
The Colleton County Cougar varsity baseball team split the two-game series with Region VII-AAAA opponent Lucy Beckham last week. The Cougars earned a 7-3 win in game one played March 14 on the road then fell 4-2 in game two Wednesday evening at home. Colleton County is currently 1-3 overall and in the region race.
Gabe Wolfe earned the starting nod in game one against Lucy Beckham and would surrender three runs on no hits over four innings, striking out one. Cam Farnsworth threw three innings of relief, allowing no hit, issuing two walks, and striking out three.
Grayson Cromer led Colleton County at the plate, going 2-4. Jamaure Manigo had a hit and stole two bases. Josh Caldwell, JC Poe, Bruce Carpenter, and Warren Hunter had a hit-a-piece.
Eddie Tavel pitched for Lucy Beckham, allowing five hits and six runs over four and a third innings, striking out two. Preston DeNapoli and Connor Hagy entered the game from the bullpen, throwing one and two-thirds innings and one inning respectively.
“The bats were cold in the first few innings, but then they came alive in the middle of the game,” said Coach Jermale Paige. “It was a big win for us as we needed it to get back in the region hunt. Cam Farnsworth came in the fifth inning, in a no out bases loaded jam, and pitched out of it getting three straight outs.”
In game two later in the week, Lucy Beckham pulled away late in the game to earn the win. Dakota Dandridge surrendered three runs on one hit over five and two-thirds innings, striking out five. Josh Caldwell threw one and one-third innings in relief.
Bruce Carpenter, Caldwell, and Cohen Crosby each collected a hit for the Cougars.
“Dakota Dandridge pitched well,” said Paige. “We were leading 1-0 up until the sixth inning and Lucy Beckham started hitting the ball, scoring several runs. Our defense was phenomenal the entire game, but our bats just did not show up.”
Colleton County was scheduled to host a two-game series (home, away) beginning March 21 against Region VII-AAAA opponent Hilton Head High School.
