The Bryan County High School Redskins Baseball team needed a boost after their disappointing loss against non-region opponent Southeast Bulloch and they got just that March 9. With a full team back in action, the Redskins scored a 5-3 non-region home game victory against Tattnall County.
Unfortunately, that momentum did not follow them to their region game on Tuesday as they suffered a narrow 1-2 loss to Calvary Day.
On March 9, the Skins took the field against Southeast Bulloch with Bryce Mingledorf on the mound. Mingledorf pitched 6 1/3 innings and struck out five before Wesley Wilkes came in to finish.
Senior Barry Spencer was back in the lineup after missing several games and his display at bat was one of the key reasons the Skins came away with a victory. In the fourth inning with the game tied, Spencer slammed a triple and advanced the go ahead run that gave the Skins their lead which they maintained for the win.
In seven successful innings, the Redskins committed no errors while Tattnall County had three for the night. The Redskins’ confidence was apparent as they took the field and it continued throughout the game.
“I was very pleased with our level of play tonight,” said head coach Al Butler. “We got 6-1/3 solid innings from Bryce, and Wesley came in to get the save. It was good to have Barry Spencer back in the line up tonight, and his hits were very timely. This is the best game we’ve played as a team this season. If we can continue to play at this level, only good things can happen.”
Leading batters for the Redskins included Justin Covington, who went 3 for 3 at bat and scored twice; Wilkes, who went 2 for 3 with a triple and scored once; Spencer who went 1 for 2 with a triple and scored once; and Trey Boatright, who went 1-3 and also scored.
The Redskins traveled to Benedictine Tuesday to meet Calvary Day School in their first region game of the year. Fresh off the win against Tattnall County, the Redskins had momentum on their side and a sense of confidence as they faced off against one of, if not the strongest opponent they will face in regular region play. That confidence would stay with them throughout the game and, although they came away with the loss, they played an excellent game against a formidable opponent.
“We haven’t had a lot of success in past years, but this is the best we’ve looked through the first eight games since I’ve been here, and this is something to build on,” Butler said.
The Redskins held the Cavs to only two hits while racking up four themselves. Those hits came from the bats of leading hitters Wilkes who went two for three with an RBI and Ricky Myrick who went two for three and scored the Redskin’s only run. Wilkes was starting pitcher for the Redskins and pitched well against a team known for its hitting ability.
Wilkes struck out seven of the Calvary hitting squad, but a stand up triple in the second inning would score the first of Calvary’s runs with the second coming in the sixth inning with a short hit ball that would score the runner at third. The Redskins’ only run came in the fourth inning when pitcher Wesley Wilkes’ single drove in Myrick .
The Cavs pitcher also was credited with seven strikeouts but some timely hitting by Myrick and Wilkes would also leave him with four hits against his record.
Calvary Coach Kevin Farmer was even impressed with the Redskins performance this night.
“This was a game with good pitching and good defense,” said Farmer. “Wilkes is the best pitcher we’ve seen this year. He located his pitch well.”
Savannah Country Day will be in Pembroke on Tuesday next week for another region game at p.m. and JV at 4 p.m.
The Redskins currently stand 0-1 in Region 3A.