As we are getting close to the midpoint of region play, it is time for the annual rivalry tussle between the Dorman Cavaliers and the Byrnes Rebels. This series is always one that draws a full crowd, regardless of where each team is in the standings, and always has huge implications for the way the region could end up playing out. This year is definitely no exception.
Both teams came into Monday night’s opener looking to get back on track after a rough go at things last week. Dorman was swept in a 2 game non-region set against a very good 4A opponent in the AC Flora Falcons. Byrnes dropped some ground in the region standings after starting 2-5A play winning 2 over Spartanburg (game 3 was postponed due to rain until April 12th), when they were swept by Boiling Springs.
The Cavaliers sent Bray Parton to the mound to oppose Byrnes’ Payne Sheriff at Ronnie Sims Field on Monday night, and it ended up being a short night for him.
Parton got into an early jam after Byrnes Center Fielder Nic Degler led off the game by reaching on a throwing error on the Dorman shortstop Colton Earnhardt. Following a walk to Jaxson Camp and striking out Connor Crenshaw, Sheriff drew a walk to load the bases for 1st baseman Kadan Roach. Roach lifted a sac fly to left to score Degler. In the end, the damage was limited to just the one run as Noah McGarrity popped up to 3rd to retire the side, leaving 2 runners stranded.
The 1-0 Rebel lead was quickly erased when the Cavaliers struck on a Mitch Wilson 2 run homer to left with 1 out in the bottom of the 1st, an advantage Dorman held onto until things went awry for Parton in the top of the 3rd. Bray was able to sandwich a 1 out walk to Connor Crenshaw between 2 fly ball outs before surrendering a 2 out single to Kadan Roach on a hit n run which allowed Crenshaw to go 1st to 3rd.
Noah McGarrity came up and tied the game when he smoked a single back where it came from, hitting Bray Parton in the thigh. Parton stayed in the game, but after walking Byrnes catcher Jake Short on 4 pitches and starting 3rd baseman Jake Moss off with a ball, it was evident that Parton was being bothered by the injury and pulled after just 2 and 2 thirds innings, giving way to Aaron Sturgill.
Aaron Sturgill ended up walking Jake Moss, forcing home Kadan Roach to tack a 3rd run onto Parton’s line and giving the Rebels the lead. Sturgill avoided any further damage, getting shortstop Brayden Price to ground into a fielder’s choice, forcing Moss at second base 4 unassisted.
The 2 teams traded blows over the next 3 innings, and heading to the 7th, it was a 6-4 game in favor of Byrnes.
Connor Price entered the game in relief of Payne Sheriff (whose final line was 5 innings, 6 hits, 4 earned runs, 4 walks, and 3 strikeouts) after 5 innings, and managed to pick up the win for the Rebels, working 2 shutout innings and allowing just 1 runner on 1 hit with a strikeout.
The loss went to Aaron Sturgill, who like Parton logged 2 and 2 thirds innings with 4 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 5 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Brycen Plexico also worked 1.1 innings of shutout ball in relief for the Cavs with just a walk allowed.
The Rebels were led by Kadan Roach, going 2 for 2 with 3 RBIs and a run scored – 2 singles and a pair of sac flies. Noah McGarrity and Jake Moss also tabbed an RBI each on a combined 1 for 7 in the 6-4 series-opening win for the Rebels.
Dorman was led by Mitch Wilson, who went 2 for 3 with a home run, a double, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs scored. Chas Welch and Clay Crossley had an RBI each with Welch going 2 for 4 with a pair of singles and a run scored. Crossley was 1 for 4.
The series will resume on Wednesday evening at Byrnes with first pitch set for 6:30 PM.
