By Thomas Grant Jr.
There’s plenty of motivation on the side of the Irmo baseball team.
The Yellow Jackets opened the postseason in a Best-of-Three play-in series. The opponent was a Westwood team looking to accomplish for the first time what Irmo did in 2019 – win a post-season game.
In the Top 7th inning in Game One, the Yellow Jackets found themselves galvanized by an unfortunate moment. With runners on first and third and the Redhawks leading 4-3, Austin Jeffcoat sent a flyball in the direction of Irmo right fielder Ty Rivers.
As Rivers reached to match the catch, he missed the ball which ended up hitting off his head. He immediately fell to the ground, allowing pinch runner Kurt Ragins to score as his fellow outfielder retrieved the ball.
Coaches and trainers immediately ran to the outfield to aid Rivers to check on his condition. Lexington County Emergency Medical Services arrived to transport Rivers to the nearby hospital and play was stopped for the evening.
No details were provided on Rivers’ condition, although he was not on the bench when the game was resumed Tuesday at Westwood.
With Rivers’ number 25 jersey hanging in the visiting dugout, Irmo quickly responded with a 2-run rally in the Bottom 7th. This forced extra innings where Westwood posted four runs without a hit in the eighth inning for the 9-5 victory.
Any celebration of the program’s first playoff win was muted and short-lived. Inspired by head coach Bruce White, Irmo came out swinging in Game Two with a 6-run first inning.
The Yellow Jackets stretched their lead to 12-0 through 3 ½ innings. Jayllen Fray went 4-6 with four RBI, Caden Hall drove in three runs and Dylan White went 2-2 with 2 RBI.
Westwood battled back with four runs in the fourth and eight in the sixth inning. An RBI single by Fray in the Top 7th provided insurance in the 15-12 win.
This sets up a deciding game Thursday at Irmo with the winner facing James Island Saturday.
Dutch Fork had a first-round bye and will also begin post-season play in Division I against J.L. Mann. Meanwhile, River Bluff travels to Mauldin Thursday for a deciding game in its Best-of-Three play-in series.
After getting shut out 6-0 in Game One, the Gators answered by blanking the Mavericks 2-0. Pitcher Dalton Corley struck out eight and allowed just three hits and Ashley Powell went 3-3 with a RBI.
S.C. BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION TOP 10 POLLS
5A Division 1
1. James Island, 2. Blythewood, 3. Dorman, 4. Stratford, 5. Lexington, 6. Fort Dorchester, 7. Dutch Fork, 8. Boiling Springs, 9. JL Mann, T10. River Bluff & Summerville
5A Division 2
1. Fort Mill, 2. Indian Land, 3. North Myrtle Beach, 4. TL Hanna, 5. Chapin, 6. Catawba Ridge, 7. West Florence, 8. Lucy Beckham, 9. Eastside, 10. Berkeley
CLASS 4A
1. Gilbert, 2. A.C. Flora, 3. Airport, 4. Fountain Inn, 5. Seneca, 6. Hartsville, 7. Westside
8. Daniel, 9. Bishop England, 10. Laurens
CLASS 2A
1. Mid-Carolina, 2. Cheraw, 3. Clinton, 4. Batesburg-Leesville, 5. Chesnee , 6. Landrum, 7. Strom Thurmond, 8. Barnwell, 9. Phillip Simmons, 10. Andrew Jackson
SOFTBALL
Both Dutch Fork and River Bluff advanced to the Class 5A Division I brackets after double-digit five-inning opening victories.
The Lady Silver Foxes shut out Rock Hill 11-0 led by Katie-Grace Hill’s three RBI and two RBI each from winning pitcher Layla Peppers, who had three hits, Haley Alderman and Abigail Pouliot.
They faced Dorman on the road Wednesday.
River Bluff opened Monday with an 11-1 win over Spartanburg. Blythe Sanders and Samantha Gillis both drove in three runs and Claire Starkey allowed just two hits to send the Lady Gators to J.F. Byrnes Wednesday.
(Photos by Thomas Grant Jr.)
