WINNSBORO – Richard Winn baseball got off to a slow start in Monday’s region game at home against Wardlaw Academy, but the rocky first did not stall the Eagles. They rallied from behind in the second to eventually take a 13-4 win over Wardlaw and clench another SCISA region title.
Wardlaw capitalized on an early error, followed by a triple to jump out to a 4-0 lead by the end of the first. The Eagles’ defense locked down in the second, and the offense went to work.
Richard Winn scored one in the first to chip away at the lead, then plated four in the bottom of the second to take a 5-4 lead. The rally was sparked by an RBI single from Dylan Albert, a two-run single from Bennett Nicholson, and a sacrifice fly by Johnathan Bonds. The Eagles never looked back, adding a run in the third before breaking the game open in the fourth with three more runs.
Albert finished 4-for-4 at the plate, highlighted with a two-run shot to right in the bottom of the fourth. He finished the day with four RBIs. Bennett Nicholson also had four hits, and Walker Blackwelder tallied two. Hoffman Sharpe drew four of the team’s seven walks.
Johnathan Bonds picked up the win on the mound. He pitched a complete seven-inning game, surrendering only three hits and one earned run. He faced 32 batters and tallied 11 strikeouts.
The win comes on the heels of a four-game stretch of losses to non-region opponents. Laurens Academy tallied 12-6 and 11-1 wins over the Eagles. Richard Winn fell 8-1 to Great Falls and 14-2 to Ben Lippen last week.
Back in region play, the Eagles traveled to King Academy on Wednesday, but scores were not available prior to The Voice’s press deadline.
They will face off with Fairfield Central in a two-game series next week. The Griffins will host a 1 p.m. game on Monday, and the Richard Winn will host Tuesday’s 6 p.m. game.
WARDLAW – 4-0-0-0-0-0-0 – 4-3-5
RICHARD WINN – 1-4-1-3-4-0-X – 13-13-6
WP: Johnathan Bonds 7.0 IP, 3H, 4R, 1ER, 3BB, 11K|
RW – Dylan Albert 4-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI. Bennett Nicholson 4-5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI. Mason Patrick 1-5. Walker Blackwelder 2-4, 2B, RBI. Dylan Wood 1-3, 2B, RBI. Seve Swearingen 1-4, RBI.