After having to pause the season for over a week due to COVID-19 exposure, the recipe for Marlboro County to make the playoffs was simple. The Bulldogs needed to win all three of their remaining region games.
The Bulldogs did just that, claiming a share of the region title Monday in the style they have used frequently this season. They came from behind, then pulled out the win in their final at-bat.
“Words cannot describe how proud I am of our guys,” said MCHS head coach Ryan Pierce. “They have overcome so much adversity this season. Our pitching staff and defense really stepped up here at the end of the season, giving us opportunities to win.”
The Bulldogs broke open a 2-2 tie with three runs in the seventh to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
Jesse Williams got a one-out double. Braxton Hunt singled and Adam Nolan walked to load the bases. Levi Radford was hit by a pitch to score Williams. Brandon Murphy then singled to center to drive in Hunt and Nolan.
Michael Norris sealed the game by striking out three batters in the bottom of the inning. The final strikeout came with the bases loaded.
Camden took the early lead, scoring a run in the bottom of the second. They added another in the fourth on an error by the Bulldogs.
Marlboro County finally got on the board in the fifth. Murphy singled to center and later scored on an error on a ball hit by Tristan Hunt. Later in the inning, Tanner Cheek scored to tie the game on a single by Williams.
Murphy was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Williams was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Norris, a junior, pitched a masterful game, holding Camden hitters to just two hits in seven innings. He struck out 8.
“We got three great pitching performances that allowed us to make the playoffs. Last Wednesday, Tanner (Cheek) and Michael (Norris) combined for a terrific game against Lake City and Thursday, Jesse (Williams) was great in the first Camden game,” said Pierce.
The Monday victory was set up by a 4-2 win over Camden at Gliarmis Field last Thursday.
Williams pitched all seven innings, striking out 10 Camden batters while allowing just three hits and a walk.
Marlboro scored all of their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Three consecutive singles by Norris, Williams and Braxton Hunt loaded the bases.
Markey Purvis was hit by a pitch, driving in Norris. Williams raced home on a wild pitch. Murphy singled to drive in Hunt and Purvis scored on another wild pitch.
Camden manufactured two runs in the top of the fifth while only getting one hit. A hit batter, an error and a dropped third strike, led to a steal of home and a run-scoring single.
However, Williams wouldn’t allow the visiting Bulldogs another scoring opportunity.
Cheek finished the game 3 for 3. Murphy, Radford, Braxton Hunt and Williams all had a hit apiece.
The Bulldogs wrapped up the regular season with a non-region road trip to Chesterfield Tuesday night.
The Rams jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second inning and held off the Bulldogs, 6-2.
Purvis led the Marlboro offense, going 3 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Thomas Smith, Braxton Hunt and Nolan accounted for the only other Bulldog hits.
Layton Hardee, Tristan Hunt, Cheek and Cutler Norris saw time on the mound, holding Chesterfield to nine hits.
Marlboro County finishes the regular season tied with Lakewood for first play in Region 6-AAA with 8-2 records. The Gators will get the top seed in the playoffs due to the fact they scored more runs in the schools’ head-to-head games.
The Bulldogs will open the postseason with a road game at Strom Thurmond High in Edgefield on Saturday at 1:30. Tickets will be sold online only, with no tickets at the gate. To purchase tickets, go to https://strebels.org/event-tickets.
The other teams in the double-elimination bracket are Georgetown and Bishop England.