The Bengals’ senior class: Andrew Beckwith (4), Bradley Lanier (2), Chaz Mizzell (7), Ricky Kernan (10), DJ Schofield (5), Derek Massey (16), Derek Croxton (12), Allen Louthian (18), Zack Hamilton (21) and Thomas Bessinger (3).
The Bearcats of Brookland-Cayce put a damper on Blythewood’s senior night April 17, edging out the Bengals for a 3-2 victory. For Blythewood (20-4, 10-0) it was only their fourth loss of the season. With the exception of a 12-3 loss to Wren during the first week of March, Blythewood’s three other losses have only come by a combined four runs. The Bengals stranded 11 runners on base through seven innings and left the bases loaded twice.
The 10 seniors that played in their final regular season home game for Blythewood included Bradley Lanier, Thomas Bessinger, Andrew Beckwith, D.J. Schofield, Chaz Mizzell, Ricky Kernan, Derek Croxton, Derek Massey, Allen Louthian and Zack Hamilton. Lanier plans to attend the College of Charleston next year. Bessinger will play baseball at the College of Charleston with plans to major in physical education and his favorite Blythewood baseball memory is beating Spring Valley twice in 2013 (11-0 on March 19 and 1-0 on April 9). Beckwith will play baseball at Coastal Carolina next year with plans to major in sports management and he will never forget closing out the region championship his sophomore season against Lugoff-Elgin. Schofield plans to major in business management next year at the University of South Carolina. His favorite Blythewood baseball memory is being a part of the playoff run in his eighth-grade year. Mizzell will attend Coastal Carolina next year and his favorite memory of Blythewood baseball is starting in the playoffs last season and making the all-tournament team at the Red Bank Invitational this season. Kernan will attend the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy next year and his favorite memory of Blythewood baseball was defeating Spring Valley 1-0 in 11 innings this season. Croxton will play baseball at USC-Lancaster next year and he will always cherish winning the 2013 S.C. Diamond Invitational and being named the tournament’s MVP. Louthian will major in marine science next year at Coastal Carolina and his most unforgettable Blythewood baseball moment is when coach Mizzell fell off the bench in the bullpen because of a foul ball. Massey will major in history at The Citadel next year and he will always remember winning the 2013 Diamond Invitational. Hamilton will play baseball for Florence-Darlington Tech next year and his favorite Blythewood baseball memory is going undefeated as a pitcher in the last two seasons. This group of seniors has helped Blythewood win three straight region championships and earned 71 victories over the last four seasons. Head coach Barry Mizzell is proud of all their accomplishments and knows their success would not have been possible without hard work.
“This is a great group of seniors and a great group of guys,” Mizzell said. “They’ve put a lot into this program.”
