Hartsville baseball season ends in playoff loss
By Don Gearhart
When playoff baseball takes place, it is very important to not let the game get away from you. Such was not the case at Jimmy White Park as the Greer Yellowjackets stung early and often against the host Red Foxes.
The Yellowjackets scored seven times in the top of the first. Collectively, seven hits, three walks, and an error and a couple of wild pitches got the visitors significantly ahead to start the game. With two outs and nobody aboard in the bottom of the first, Hartsville loaded the bases when Mckendrie Douglas was hit by a pitch, Web Barnes got an infield hit, and Jaden Atkinson walked. Andrew Askins ground ball to short turned into a fielder’s choice retiring Atkinson at second base.
The onslaught continued in the second inning. Five walks and only one hit led to a four-run inning. By the time Hartsville came into bat in their half of the second inning, they had now used their fourth pitcher of the night.
Greer kept a zero off the scoreboard in the top of the third. A walk and a run-producing double accounted for their twelfth run of the game and a 12-0 lead.
Hartsville finally showed some life in the bottom of the fourth inning. Askins led off with a base hit up the middle and John Alexander’s grounder to third was bobbled allowing him to be safe at first. Cole Winburn had a sacrifice fly to right field driving in the Red Foxes first run of the game. Brandon Anderson then walked and with two outs, Dawson Mckimmey got on via an error. A walk to Douglas resulted in an RBI allowing Alexander to cross the plate.
The bottom of the fifth would be “do or die” for the Red Foxes. Trailing 12-2, they were in jeopardy of losing by the 10-run rule. Unfortunately, a comeback was not in the cards as the Red Foxes were retired in order to end the game.
Hartsville’s season ended with a 14-12 record.