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Young baseball team sets school record for victories in 2012
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Bennettsville – With only one senior on the team, a young Marlboro County High baseball team became the winningest team in school history with a 10-4 playoff win over Hartsville on April 28th.
The victory was the school’s first playoff win in three years and was the 15th of 2012, improving the overall record to 15-8.
The Bulldogs won 10 games last season and lost a pair of one-run playoff games and the success of this year’s team has surprised many. Coach Phillip Blue thought his team had potential back in February but, as one might expect, the coach was wondering if this year’s team was a bit too young.
“I knew we had a chance to be competitive because I felt we had some good pieces,” said Blue. “We didn’t know how everything would work out with having so many young kids. I knew they were talented but you just never know until you put them out there and let them play.”
Marlboro County ended up the regular season in a three-way tie for the region 6-AAA championship with Darlington and Camden. After the tie-breakers, the Bulldogs ended up as the second-place team and opened the District 5 playoffs against Brookland-Cayce, the third-place team in region five.
The Bulldogs lost that opening round game, 12-2, but never lost hope in attaining a playoff victory this spring.
Facing elimination from the playoffs, the Bulldogs hosted region six rival Hartsville, a team they had defeated twice during the regular season. Marlboro County notched the playoff win and set the school record for victories in a season.
“That 15th win and a school record was certainly motivation for us, not to mention we wanted to get that playoff win,” said Blue. “It’s big to get a victory and set the record with such a young team. We accomplished a great deal this season.”
Marlboro County played Brookland-Cayce on April 30th in another elimination game. Blue says every playoff game his team can play, win or lose, is a bonus and a learning experience.
“As young as we are, every game is big and every chance to play a game is another chance to gain some experience,” the coach said. “I told the guys to take one game at a time. That’s how we did things all season. We’ve learned how to compete and how to win and with so many players coming back, that has to help us next season.”
Pitching has been the strength on this year’s team, according to Blue. Juniors Sam Pruitt and Jimmy Miller have been the top two hurlers on the staff this spring. Pruitt has a 5-3 record with two saves and has pitched in most of the bigger games this season. Miller has posted a 5-1 record.
A third key arm has been sophomore Connor Pate, who has three wins and has pitched very consistently in a variety of roles.
On the offensive end, junior first baseman Spencer Odom has been the team’s most consistent hitter, according to Blue. Odom’s batting average topped .500 for much of the season and he is hitting in the mid .400’s at season’s end.
The team’s lone senior, shortstop Ryan Janssen, has been a steady leader at the plate and defensively, while freshman left fielder Nic Rogers has hit over .300 all season.
Junior centerfielder Rodney McCoy has excelled defensively in the outfield and freshman Colt Springs has become a steady defensive player behind the plate.
The Marlboro County softball team also qualified for the state playoffs after finishing second in region 6-AAA behind Hartsville this season.
The Lady Bulldogs opened the playoffs with a loss at home to Midland Valley but rebounded to stay alive with a win over Camden on April 28th. Marlboro County was to play either Midland Valley or Chapin on April 30th in an elimination game.
Like the baseball team, the softball team is still fairly young. The only full-time starting senior is shortstop/pitcher Breanna Skipper. Skipper hit .310 for the regular season while posting an 8-6 record in the circle with a 1.91 earned run average.
Sophomore catcher Taylor Cheek leads the team in hitting with a .426 average. Freshman shortstop Caitlyn Nolan has hit .400 this season while junior third baseman Lawren Black is hitting .333.
Junior Dakota Leviner has a 7-0 pitching record with a 0.92 earned run average this season.
TRACK TEAMS COMPETE IN REGION MEET
Marlboro County’s track and field teams competed in the region 6-AAA meet last week with the girls’ team placing fourth in the team standings and the boys’ team finishing sixth.
The top four finishers in each event qualified for the AAA lower state meet, which takes place this weekend.
From Marlboro County, those athletes qualifying for lower state include Scotia McClain (3rd in the 100), Justus McLaughlin (2nd in the 400), Dana Moore (1st in the long jump, 2nd in triple jump, 2nd in 100 hurdles), Xavier Larkins (2nd in high jump), and Michael McManus (4th in long jump, 4th in triple jump).
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