By Thomas Grant Jr.
Both Irmo and Dutch Fork varsity baseball teams are off to winning starts in region play.
The Yellow Jackets won their first two games over Richland Northeast. They defeated the Cavaliers 11-1 in six innings on March 19 behind a one-hit, 13-strikeout performance by pitcher Mason Burdette.
Wayland Grillot scored three runs and Ty Rivers and Hunter Parsons both had two RBI.
Two nights later, Irmo defeated Richland Northeast 8-2. Sam Turner went 2-4 with three RBI and Ty Rivers went 3-4 to lead the offense.
Both Parsons and Cooper Starling each had seven strikeouts in six innings.
The Yellow Jackets opened a two-game series with Ridge View Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Dutch Fork opened Region 4-5A with a 6-0 victory over White Knoll.
Starting pitcher Hunter Phipps had 15 strikeouts and allowed no hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Jarvis Jackson had a 2-run double and finished 2-3 with three RBI. Brady Yarborough, Raleigh Salters and Matthew Rollison all had two hits.
It was the third straight win for the Silver Foxes, who swept two games against Brookland-Cayce by the scores of 12-2 and 7-4.
SOFTBALL
Dutch Fork catcher Allie Boone
Dutch Fork rebounded from a region-opening loss to White Knoll with two straight victories.
The Silver Foxes routed River Bluff 14-1 in four innings on March 11 led by Limestone commit catcher Allie Boone who went 2-2 with four 3 RBIs. This included a 3-run home run as part of an 8-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Abigail Pouliot went 2-3 with 3 RBI and Katie-Grace Hill finished 2-4 with 2 RBI. Layla Peppers struck out four in four innings for the victory.
Monday night saw town rivals Dutch Fork and Irmo hold its annual clash. The Lady Silver Foxes came out on top 7-3 as winning pitcher Peppers had three RBI and Boone stole two bases.
Peppers hit a 2-run single in the top of the first to put Dutch Fork on top. Irmo rallied with three unanswered runs, two coming off an error in the second inning.
A sacrifice fly by Peppers in the top of the sixth gave the Silver Foxes the lead for good. They added three runs in the top of the seventh on an error and 2-run single by Haley Alderman.
Peppers struck out seven and allowed five hits, three by Malia Lewis. All-State senior Precious Bross went 1-2 with an RBI and walk.
S.C. BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION RANKINGS
Class 5A
1. Summerville
2. Berkeley
3. Boiling Springs
4. Blythewood
5. Lexington
6. River Bluff
7. West Ashley
8. JL Mann
9. Fort Mill
10. Dorman/Chapin
Class 4A
1. Catawba Ridge
2. North Myrtle Beach
3. Laurens
4. Airport
5. James Island
6. West Florence
7. Easley
8. Greenville
9. North Augusta
10. Hartsville
Photo courtesy of Irmo High School
