NEWBERRY — Chapin Newberry finally gets back in the win column after a rough three game stretch. Chapin Newberry Post 193/24(3-5,1-2 league 5) defeated Greenwood Post 20(7-2, 2-1 league 5) 4-2 at home to snap their three game losing streak.
Chapin Newberry Post returned back home to the Smith Road Complex on the campus of Newberry College looking to close out their three game series with a win against Greenwood Post. The two teams played on June 4 at Newberry College and again on June 8 at Greenwood Legion Field. Greenwood was able to win both tightly contested games by one run.
Luke Milling got the start on the mound again for Chapin Newberry and he got off to a strong start in the first inning. He retired the first two batters he faced before giving up a single and walk. He would eventually get out of the inning without allowing a run. The offense for the home team was slow in the first inning and the two teams were scoreless through the opening inning.
The second inning went much like the first inning for the two teams and it was scoreless heading into the third inning. Milling ran into a little bit of trouble in the third inning after getting the first two outs of the inning with ease. He gave up a single with two outs and Chapin Newberry then committed an error to put runners at the corners. Fortunately, Milling was able to get out of the jam and the inning.
The home team was able to put up the first score in the bottom half of the third inning. Felix Flecha Ruiz got things started with a single and he was also able to get a steal once he reached base. Andrew Greer was able to hit a ground ball hard between the first and second basemen to bring Ruiz home for the score. Chapin Newberry would leave two runners stranded, but still got out of the inning with a 1-0 lead.
Neither team could get anything going in the fourth and fifth innings. Chapin Newberry would hold onto their narrow 1-0 lead heading into the top of the sixth inning. They would also make a pitching change at the top of the sixth inning and bring in Lawson Lawrence. Milling would finish the day with five innings pitched, give up only four hits and didn’t allow a run.
Lawrence would got off to a rocky start, but he would eventually settle into the game. He gave up a single and a walk to start his outing that put two runners on base. Greenwood would keep things going with a RBI double that scored two runs to give them their first lead of the game, 2-1. The former Mid-Carolina Rebel pitcher would get out of the jam and out of the inning with a strikeout.
Chapin Newberry would go into the bottom half of the sixth inning now trailing 2-1, but they would quickly reclaim the lead. Kaedyn Harris would start the inning off strong for the home team with a single. Coleman Fryer would follow that up with a single of his own to put two runners on base. Landen Wicker lays down the perfect bunt and reaches base safely to load the bases up,
Greenwood Post head coach saw enough and decided to go to his bullpen. The change didn’t help because Chapin Newberry’s bats kept on rolling. Luciano Cesario continued his dominate series against Greenwood and delivers a RBI double that brought in two runs to give his team a 3-2 lead. James Kahl lays down a sacrifice bunt to bring in another run for the home team to extend their lead, 4-2.
The visitors were finally able to get out of the inning, but would now have to find a way to score two runs with only three outs left in the game. Lawrence was determined to not that let that happen and registered two strikeouts in route to closing the game and securing their only win of the three game series.
“Exactly what I was thinking at the top of the sixth, was ‘OMG here we go again.’ I know the record doesn’t show it but they have been playing really well. We have hit really well, but just hitting a lot of balls at guys[opposing teams] over and over and over again. We just haven’t been able to catch a break,” said head coach Ryan Stoudemire.
He continued, “We were kind of joking when we hit the double down the line at third base that we were surprised the guy didn’t lay out to match a catch and double us up at first base. We are putting good at bats together, but we may have just one or two small things that hasn’t gone our way. Tonight we were able to fight back and get back on top.”
Chapin Newberry Post 193/24 will be back in action on the week of June 15-20 with a three game series against Easley Post 52. Two games will be played at Alice Mill Park in Greenwood, South Carolina and one home game at Smith Road Complex at Newberry College on Tuesday, June 16.