A little under 24 hours after dropping the series to the Bulldogs with a 2-1 loss in game 2 of the series, the Byrnes Rebels took to their home field in a JV/Varsity double header looking to spoil the Bulldogs’ hopes for a sweep and salvage the finale. The series has not been particularly full of offense through the first 2 games. A mix of good pitching and lack of clutch hitting had been the major storyline of the series coming into the night. Really, in the case of Boiling Springs, characteristically strong starting pitching and good defense paired with RISP and baserunning struggles have been the storyline all season long.
This game, the Rebels sent Sophomore Connor Crenshaw to the mound to counter Corben Childers. Crenshaw got off to a strong start, striking out the side in the top of the 1st. Childers also worked a 3 up 3 down inning with a ground ball to 2nd and back to back strikeouts.
Things began to go awry for the Rebels in the 2nd. Hudson Wilson doubled with 1 out. After Jackson Reel flied out to center, Corben Childers helped his own case with a single to put men on the corners. The Rebs had a chance to escape the inning with no damage when Corben Childers got caught in a pickle between 1st and 2nd. In the process, Wilson took off on a delayed steal of home in the chaos of the play for the first run of the game. Childers ended up safe at 2nd after 2nd baseman Jake Moss dropped the ball on one of the relay throws in the rundown.
That drop ended up costing the Rebels a 2nd run. Landon Stevens singled to score Childers and took 2nd on the throw to the plate, and despite the Bulldogs leaving him on the basepaths, took a 2-0 lead to the home half of the 2nd.
Connor Crenshaw tried to help himself with a 1 out single and a stolen base in the bottom of the 2nd, but back to back fly ball outs left him on to waste a chance to cut the Bulldog lead in half.
Boiling Springs took advantage of a fielding error on Jake Moss that allowed Riley Douglas to reach to start the 3rd. He took 2nd on a ball in the dirt and stole 3rd, coming home on an RBI groundout to short from Jackson Cole, giving the Dogs a 3-0 advantage.
Byrnes struck for what would be their lone run of the game in the bottom of the frame, cashing in on a 2 out walk to Nic Degler and an errant pickoff attempt at 1st. Jaxson Camp followed the error with an RBI single that plated Degler unearned and then stole 2nd. However, his attempt to take 3rd did not go as planned and he was caught stealing 2-5 at 3rd to end the inning.
The only “big inning” of the series came in the top of the 5th. Already up 4-1 after plating another in the previous inning, Boiling Springs struck for a 5 spot – all unearned runs – to all but secure the sweep.
Justin Dawkins singled with 1 out and took 2nd via an error on a pickoff throw to 1st. Jackson Cole drew a walk and took 2nd on a wild pitch that also advanced Dawkins to 3rd. Knowing he has been hot in the series, the Rebels capped the night for Crenshaw by intentionally walking Luke Compton.
After going to the bullpen and handing the ball to Caleb Jeter, Hudson Wilson greeted him by lifting a sac fly to right to plate Dawkins and advance Cole to 3rd. After Jackson Reel drew a walk, the big blow of the inning was a self-imposed one.
Connor Crenshaw moved to 2nd after being taken off the mound, and his first try at a play in the field was on a pop up from Corben Childers into shallow right center. The ball ended up dropping into the “Bermuda Triangle” between Crenshaw, who should have been the one to make the play, and the center fielder, leading to 2 more unearned runs. Landon Stevens would put a bow on the 5 spot inning with an RBI single to plate Childers unearned, making for a 9-1 margin.
Boiling Springs would tack on one more in the top of the 7th on a pinch hit RBI single from senior Mason Collins, while Aaron Sewell and Dylan Miller combined to shut the Rebels down over the final 2 innings, securing the 10-1 victory for the Bulldogs.
Corben Childers earned the win, pitching 5 innings of 1 run ball with 4 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Sewell and Miller combined to strike out 2 and walk 1 in 2 shutout innings.
Childers was also the man at the plate for Boiling Springs, going 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored. Landon Stevens led the way in the RBI category with 2 on a 2-4 effort. Hudson Wilson was 2-3 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. Justin Dawkins finished the night 2 for 5 with a run scored.
The loss went to Connor Crenshaw, who allowed 7 runs, only 2 of which were earned in 4.1 innings of work with 6 hits, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. At the plate, Byrnes was led by Jaxson Camp, who finished 2 for 4 with their lone RBI. Connor Crenshaw was also 1 for 1 with a pair of walks. Nic Degler was 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Boiling Springs will take on Gaffney in a 3 game set next week starting Monday night at Bulldog Park. Game 2 will be at Jug Wallace Field in Gaffney on Wednesday, and the finale will be Friday at Boiling Springs.
Byrnes will have yet another rivalry series next week with the region-leading Dorman Cavaliers. The 3 game set begins Monday night in Roebuck, continues Wednesday in Duncan, and returns to Roebuck for the finale on Friday.
