Ard leads Wolverines to 13-2 rout of SBHS Eagles
Put another one in the win column for the East Clarendon Wolverines who cruised past the Scott’s Branch Eagles 13-2 last Tuesday claiming their eighth victory of the season.
“This group came ready to work,” said East Clarendon Head Coach Freddie Teal. “They know what’s at stake this year.”
It was time for the Wolverines to light up their bats and they did as they pounded out 26 hits on Eagles’ pitcher Edward McFadden.
Dylan Atkinson and Collin Lee each had two hits while Manuel Flores, Douglas Ard, Zack Graham, Austin Floyd, Colby McFaddin and Larry Green each had solo hits on the night.
“That’s one thing we’ve tried to work on this year, putting the ball in play,” said Teal. “We had some guys step up and I gave some young guys a shot today just to get the feel of the game.”
Despite the outburst at the plate, Teal said he was impressed with the pitching.
Regular catcher (Douglas) Ard got the nod for the mound against the Eagles and made the most of it throwing four innings with eight strikeouts, two hits and no earned runs.
“He hadn’t pitched much for us this year and he came in there and threw strikes and we were able to put the ball in play and get some runs across,” said Teal. “He’s normally my starting catcher so I thought I’d give him an opportunity (to pitch).”
Ard began his hot night on the mound in the top of the first inning, retiring two of the first three batters.
The Wolverines’ offensive power came through in the bottom of the inning when they gathered five hits and six runs.
Atkinson led off and reached first base on an error that brought Flores to the plate.
He hammered a deep RBI triple, scoring Atkinson from first for the game’s first score and 1-0 lead.
East Clarendon scored another run in the first when Flores rounded third and stretched the ECHS lead to 2-0.
It was not until a two RBI triple from Collin Lee that began to blow the game open.
His hit brought in Ard and Kemper Cannon and increased the Wolverines’ lead to 4-0.
EC scored two more runs in the first and restarted the lineup before Flores popped-out for the final out.
They continued to bring in runs that ultimately ended the game in four innings under the 10-run rule.
“I think our pitching’s finally coming around and our bats are starting to come alive,” said Teal. “We’re hitting in key situations where we weren’t at the beginning of the year and our defense is starting to jell.”
The Wolverines’ next game will be April 19 when they host Hannah-Pamplico at 6 p.m.
Clarendon County baseball/softball roundups
In other Clarendon County baseball action last week, East Clarendon got another win with a 5-2 mark over the Lamar Silver Foxes April 4 but fell to Carolina Academy 14-7 on April 7.
However, they bounced back on April 8 with a 9-4 win over the Timmonsville Whirlwinds.
They will not play again until April 19 when they host Hannah-Pamplico at 6 p.m.
The Laurence Manning Academy Swampcats defeated the Thomas Sumter Academy Generals 11-7 on April 4.
The Diamond Cats were on the losing end of a 3-1 decision to the Wilson Hall Barons April 5.
LMA rebounded on April 7 when they edged the Orangeburg Prep Indians 8-7.
The Swampcats ended last week splitting a double-header with the Williamsburg Academy Stallions April 9.
Laurence Manning won the first game 6-4 but fell to W.A. 4-3 in the final game.
The Swampcats will play again today when they host Cardinal Newman with the game starting at 7 p.m.
The Manning High School Monarchs played just one game last week but made the most of it with a 13-10 victory over the Lake City Panthers April 5.
Up next for the Monarchs is a game today at 6:30 p.m. when they host Darlington.
The Clarendon Hall Saints’ next game will be April 26 when they host St. John’s Christian at 7 p.m.
Softball
In Clarendon County softball action last week, The East Clarendon Lady Wolverines chalked up three more victories in the win column.
They began the week with a rainout against Andrews April 4 but claimed three victories the rest of the week.
On April 5, ECHS defeated the Scott’s Branch Lady Eagles 17-0.
On April 6, the Lady Wolverines defeated the Lamar Lady Silver Foxes 11-0 and ended the week with a 21-0 shellacking of the Timmonsville Lady Whirlwinds April 8.
The Manning High Lady Monarchs gained two more victories with a 10-1 decision over the Lakewood Lady Gators April 4 and a 15-1 rout of the Lake City Lady Panthers April 5.
Up next for the Lady Monarchs is a game at Timberland Friday at 6:30 p.m.
The Laurence Manning Academy Lady Swampcats were rained out against Northwood April 5 but picked up another win with a 5-4 victory over the Florence Christian Lady Eagles April 7.
The Lady Cats will play at Robert E. Lee at 5 p.m. Thursday.
The Clarendon Hall Lady Saints’ next game will be April 25 when they travel to Newberry with the game beginning at 5 p.m.
