Byrnes 1 ... Bluffton 0
Much of the outcome of this game is decided Friday night at Spring Valley in the top of the 1st inning. Lauren Duggar reaches 1st base in the game lead. Though scored an error on a slight bobble by the infielder, with Duggar's blazing speed, she would have reached 1st base either way on her medium high two bounce hopper. Duggar soon followed by stealing second base on a passed ball. This has been their formula all year, get Senior Lauren Duggar in scoring position, no matter how.
Parker Birch does her job next with a sacrifice bunt to move Duggar to 3rd base. Up next is Bailey Pearson. This senior pitcher, and #3 spot hitter has been in the lead all playoffs for the Lady Rebels. Clutch hit, after clutch hit, all throughout the playoffs. This time is no different, as Pearson lifts a 180' sacrifice fly, to score Duggar, and the game winning RBI.
The Bluffton Bobcats had their chances to challenge, but could never convert. In the bottom 1st Mikyla Houghlan reaches 2B to get stranded. In the 2nd, Lilly Otton rips a single with no outs. Makes it to third base on two sacrifices, only to get stranded by a key strike out by Pearson. In the 3rd, Jordan Parker rips a triple in the line-up lead. Pearson bears down with two key strike outs, and a routine ground out to stop this threat cold.
Now in South Aiken, and Bluffton continues to fight, in the 6th, like the true lady Bobcats they are. Lilly Otton gets a torched single, followed by a clutch single to center field by Courtney Smith. Once again, Pearson digs in and gets a big strike out to end this threat. The Lady Rebels get super tight in the bottom of the 7th. Perhaps finally grasping the magnitude of the moment, their body parts seem to stop working. A couple sloppy plays by the infield, and Bluffton has runners on 1st and 2nd base with two outs.
Head Coach Brandi Aiken goes to the circle, calming the Rebel troops. The next batter hits a tough fly ball to the right fielder Allison Neely. She stumbles out of the gate, fighting the sun, makes the catch and the 4A State Championship for the Byrnes Lady Rebels.
The biggest ovation for the whole game, in each location, was for Regan Messenger. Possibly because of the previous protest of the game before. Probably fitting also, as Messenger will most likely be asked to carry much of the load in the circle next year. Tough shoes to fill, as Senior Bailey Pearson goes out on top.
Congratulations to the Byrnes Lady Rebels, South Carolina 4A State Champions!
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This post was edited on 5/25 7:54 PM by BS100
Much of the outcome of this game is decided Friday night at Spring Valley in the top of the 1st inning. Lauren Duggar reaches 1st base in the game lead. Though scored an error on a slight bobble by the infielder, with Duggar's blazing speed, she would have reached 1st base either way on her medium high two bounce hopper. Duggar soon followed by stealing second base on a passed ball. This has been their formula all year, get Senior Lauren Duggar in scoring position, no matter how.
Parker Birch does her job next with a sacrifice bunt to move Duggar to 3rd base. Up next is Bailey Pearson. This senior pitcher, and #3 spot hitter has been in the lead all playoffs for the Lady Rebels. Clutch hit, after clutch hit, all throughout the playoffs. This time is no different, as Pearson lifts a 180' sacrifice fly, to score Duggar, and the game winning RBI.
The Bluffton Bobcats had their chances to challenge, but could never convert. In the bottom 1st Mikyla Houghlan reaches 2B to get stranded. In the 2nd, Lilly Otton rips a single with no outs. Makes it to third base on two sacrifices, only to get stranded by a key strike out by Pearson. In the 3rd, Jordan Parker rips a triple in the line-up lead. Pearson bears down with two key strike outs, and a routine ground out to stop this threat cold.
Now in South Aiken, and Bluffton continues to fight, in the 6th, like the true lady Bobcats they are. Lilly Otton gets a torched single, followed by a clutch single to center field by Courtney Smith. Once again, Pearson digs in and gets a big strike out to end this threat. The Lady Rebels get super tight in the bottom of the 7th. Perhaps finally grasping the magnitude of the moment, their body parts seem to stop working. A couple sloppy plays by the infield, and Bluffton has runners on 1st and 2nd base with two outs.
Head Coach Brandi Aiken goes to the circle, calming the Rebel troops. The next batter hits a tough fly ball to the right fielder Allison Neely. She stumbles out of the gate, fighting the sun, makes the catch and the 4A State Championship for the Byrnes Lady Rebels.
The biggest ovation for the whole game, in each location, was for Regan Messenger. Possibly because of the previous protest of the game before. Probably fitting also, as Messenger will most likely be asked to carry much of the load in the circle next year. Tough shoes to fill, as Senior Bailey Pearson goes out on top.
Congratulations to the Byrnes Lady Rebels, South Carolina 4A State Champions!
.
This post was edited on 5/25 7:54 PM by BS100