Darlington keeps up good start in junior legion
A slow start turned in to a win for Darlington in their game against Marlboro County last week. Photo by Drake Horton
Contributing Writer
Darlington – It might have been a slow start, but it was an impressive finish.
After falling behind early against Marlboro County, Darlington exploded for 10 runs in the bottom of the third and two more in the fifth to win 12-2 in just five innings this past Wednesday at home.
Down 2-0 going into the bottom half of the third inning, the idea that Darlington would run-rule Marlboro County was few and far.
“Early they jumped out on us because we were letting leadoff guys get on base and that is what happens; leadoff guys score,” Darlington head coach Dennis Gearhart said.
That thought changed quickly, however, as everything that could go right did for Darlington and everything that could go wrong did for Marlboro County in the third inning.
It first started with a bloop single, resulting from poor communication from Marlboro County’s shortstop and left fielder.
Following that, Darlington was attempting to lay down a sacrifice bunt, willing to give an out to move both of its baserunners over. Instead, Marlboro County tried to let it roll foul, but the problem was that it never did.
So instead of having runners on second and third with one out, Darlington had the bases loaded with no outs and that is when the floodgates started to open.
Darlington’s Ques Mullins ripped a bases’ clearing three-RBI double to the right-center wall and that was just the beginning.
Darlington scored four more runs and loaded the bases again for Mullins who, with two outs, hit his second bases clearing double of the inning, barely missing a grand slam as the ball bounced off the left field wall giving it a 10-2 lead.
“The third inning was certainly the difference,” Gearhart said. “We strung together some hits, but on top of it we did the little things right in the inning. We got some bunts down that they didn’t defend very well, but we just strung a bunch of hits together.”
Those 10 runs were more than enough for starting pitcher Chase Weatherford who, despite not having his best stuff, did more than enough to keep the Marlboro County hitters at bay.
Garret Knight ended the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when he connected a for a two-RBI double to right-center.
The win was Darlington’s second on the young junior legion season.
“It’s the first league win, we’re 2-0 on the year,” Gearhart said.
RECAP
Darlington had three other games scheduled to play this past week, but were only able to play two due to weather.
Scheduled to play Marlboro County on the road as well, both times Darlington tried to play them rain ended up canceling the game.
On Saturday Darlington played in a double header against South Florence Gold and won both games; 11-1 and 7-3
Overall Darlington is 4-0 on the year.