Dutch Fork teammates celebrate home run by Luciano Cesaro – Photo by Thomas Grant Jr.
By Thomas Grant Jr.
In preparation for the start of Region 4-5A play, Dutch Fork baseball closed out its non-region schedule with two games this past weekend.
After two straight postponements due to rainfall, the Silver Foxes finally faced Brookland-Cayce at home Friday. They found themselves in a 2-0 home early before retaking the lead at 3-2 in the Bottom 2nd.
The Bearcats tied the game at 3-3, only for Dutch Fork to score 10 unanswered runs for the 13-3 victory in five innings.
Photos by Thomas Grant Jr.
Pitcher Trey Pollack picked up the win on the mound. He struck out and walked four in three innings before fellow freshman Banks Head threw two scoreless innings.
“We came out with the bats, threw some young guys on the mound to give them some experience,” Dutch Fork head coach Darren Jones said. “Our bats came around. This region play, we’ve got to have it ready.”
At the plate, sophomore Coleman Fryer was 2-4 with 4 RBI. senior Luciano Cesario went 2-3 with two RBIs and a solo home run in the second inning.
Cesario is one of three seniors with state title rings in football (pitcher Ethan Offing and outfielder Raleigh Salters). He’s motivated by the prospect of winning another state title before continuing his two-sport career at Newberry College.
“It’s the standard at Dutch Fork,” he said. “Just because it’s football, it doesn’t change in any other sport here. To go (four in a row) in football and come out here and do it again, we’ve all got to be motivated.”
Jones believes “it’s a good tradition” to have two-sport athletes on the roster. While it may take longer for those players to transition from football to baseball, he believes they benefit from the work in the weight room.
Dutch Fork did not fare as well Saturday at Dorman. The Cavaliers erupted for 11 runs in the fourth inning of a 15-3 victory in five innings.
The Silver Foxes started a 2-game series at Chapin Tuesday to open region play. They will have a non-region game Friday at home against Mid-Carolina.
Justus Bell to play In Carolinas Classic
Justus Bell
The final high school basketball game for All-State forward Justus Bell will take place Saturday at Dorman High School.
The All-State forward will represent the South Carolina All-Stars in the annual Carolinas Classic game at 5 p.m. against North Carolina. It will be preceded by the girls’ game at 3 p.m.
This is the first of a 3-year contract with the city of Spartanburg to hold the Classic in South Carolina.
Bell averaged 19.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game this season for the Region 4-5A champion Silver Foxes.
