Farm League Update for Week 3

Hartsville National's 2014 Farm League may be the most-balanced league in the history of Dixie Youth.  The credit, undoubtedly, goes to each team's general manager for their superb player evaluations.  Now that we've given credit to the old folks, let's move on to the games.

On Monday night, Arborworks got things started with a 13-2 win over First Citizens.  The loss was an about-face for First Citizens, who had handed Pennington & Meadows their only loss last week.  Arborworks was led by McKendrie Douglas, Shane Dillon and Logan Dilley.  The Fighting Dubbers also got great defensive support from Nolan McInnis at the hot corner and Hunter Brown was Sandberg-esque at second base.  Cole Winburn, Andrew Askins and Andrew Dameron played big for the Personal Bankers. 

In the nightcap, Pennington & Meadows got back to their winning ways with a 12-10 win over Pepsi.  After the game, the Colas head coach, David Young, had this to say, "I can't seem to beat a Terry Weekley-led ballclub."  In truth, Young's Pepsi teams are 1-5-2 against the Real Estate Moguls over the last two seasons.  During that same time span, Pepsi has lost only two other ball games, both to Arborworks.  P&M was led by its middle infielders, Dewsy Meadows and Grayson Weekley.  Pepsi was led by their hot-hitting third baseman, Evan Young, and their own version of Prince Fielder, Mr. Trion McDonald on first base.  

Tuesday's games were postponed due to bad weather.  These games will be made up on March 31st at their previously scheduled times.  

Farm League was back in action on Thursday.  Arborworks was again victorious in the opener, thwarting a fierce Pepsi comeback with a diving catch at first base by McKendrie Douglas.  The Tree Trimmers were up 13-2 heading into the top of the sixth when Pepsi found its fizz.  The Colas scored six runs before Douglas' diving catch on a hard hit ball off the bat of Luke Holloman.  Alex Byrd, Dustin Gaymon and Jarris Lambert were the leading hitters for Arborworks.  Pepsi was led by Evan Young and the Holloman Brothers, Luke & Lan.  Trion McDonald also had a ground-rule double for Pepsi, who finds itself out of the driver's seat with its two game losing skid.  

Thursday's second game saw Palmetto Precision Products top First Citizens 10-4.  The win was PPP's first of the season, though we should expect many more.  As noted earlier, this league is even from top to bottom.  The difference between a win and a loss in this league could be inches; whether it's a close play at the plate or a hard hit grounder that's just out of reach, Hartsville National Farm League Baseball is fantastic.

Current league standings are:

P&M 3-1-1
Arborworks 4-2
Pepsi 3-2-1
First Citizens 2-4
Palmetto Precision 1-4

Ozone Update for Weeks 2 & 3

3/18

Kiwanis defeated Lions

Saleeby & Cox downed Rotary

3/20

Cameron Rogers led the charge for Rotary, but Kiwanis turned out to be too much as a true team effort propelled the big green machine to a victory. Dalton Flowers took the hill for Kiwanis, striking out 4 & walking 0 in three innings. JaQuez Lucas closed the game, notching 5 K's in 2 scoreless innings. Offensively, Lucas, Max Cole, "Mater" Grizzard, & Pat Anderson combined for 9 hits & 6 RBI's in 12 at bats, while Jeffrey Powell, Joe & Jonah Burr also drove in runs. Final: Kiwanis 14, Rotary 3.

In game 2, Saleeby & Cox defeated Lions 13-2

3/25

Game 1 provided fans a much anticipated rematch between Kiwanis and Saleeby & Cox. Keyshawn McDonald brought the heat for SC, with support from SS Cameron Glover & 2B Harrison Corns. JaQuez Lucas & Dustin Kennedy shared the mound for Kiwanis. Early on this one looked to be another classic. Then, for awhile it appeared Kiwanis would run away from the young lawyers. Key hits from Glover & Gage Morrell sparked a late rally that looked as if it might push SC past Kiwanis. In the end, Kiwanis was able to hang on for the victory.

Game 2 was postponed that night.

3/27

Saleeby & Cox def. Rotary
Kiwanis def. Lions to remain undefeated.

Standings after Week 3:

Kiwanis 6-0-0
SC 4-2-0
Rotary 1-4-0
Lions 0-5-0

Minor League Update for Weeks 2 & 3

3/17 (played 3/20)

Game 1
SPC defeated Darlington Packing

Game 2
In a game scheduled for St. Patrick's Day but delayed due to weather, Coach Terry Quinn & his Masons team outlasted Carolina Bank 9-7. Team Masons was led defensively by pitchers Matthew Quinn & Hunter Dixon. Offensively, Bennett Meadows started the game with a double & a stolen base. Ryan Jordan brought the silver & gold fans alive with an in the park homer to lift Masons to a 2-0 lead. Through the remainder of the game, Jordan posted another hit, JoJo Dixon had 2 singles, and Matthew Quinn, Hunter Dixon & Joseph Ringer each had hits in the contest.

Just a reminder in case you were wondering...no stats provided by a team = no detail here.

3/18

Game 1
Allstate def. Carolina Bank

Game 2
Sonoco, with pitchers Luke Johnson & Hardy Smothers, came in confident. The dynamic duo looked good, but the red hot Ryan Jordan continued his amazing streak at the plate. The veteran posted a homer, single & double on the night. Other hitters for the group included Vance Poole, Chandler Greene, JoJo Dixon, Hunter Dixon, Matthew Quinn & starting pitcher, Bennett Meadows, all helping to provide run support. Meadows pitched a complete game, allowing just 1 run, as Masons claimed the 6-1 victory.

3/20

Game 1
SPC def. Allstate

Game 2
Starting pitcher, Noah Hudson, threw a complete game to lead Darlington Packing to a victory over Sonoco. The young lefty made the game look easy that night, allowing just 2 walks vs 10 K's in the contest.

3/24

Game 1
Once again Bennett Meadows took the hill, this time facing SPC Credit Union. Backed by his Masons teammates, the steady right hander once again proved up to the challenge, going the distance to claim another complete game victory. Big hits came when the team needed them most, with Meadows starting the 4th with a triple, followed by hits from Matthew Quinn & Ryan Jordan. In the end, the win was truly a team effort. After what appeared for awhile to be another patented SPC comeback, 2B Daniel Norwood fielded the final ground ball & threw a dart to 1B Joseph Ringer to make it official.

Game 2
Darlington Packing def. Allstate

3/25

Game 1
DP def. Carolina Bank via forfeit.

Game 2
SPC def. Sonoco

3/27

Game 1
Carolina Bank def. Sonoco

Game 2
Masons, led by Matthew Quinn, defeated a scrappy Allstate team. The fair haired pitcher went from start to finish, claiming the W for Masons. The offensive efforts were led by Ryan Jordan & Quinn, who helped his cause with a solo, in-park round tripper during the contest.

Standings after Week 3:

Masons 5-0-1
SPC 5-1-0
DP 3-2-1
CB 1-4-1
Sonoco 1-4-1
Allstate 1-5-0

Farm League: Week Two Update

Inclement weather kept the gates at Byerly Park closed early in the week, but things definitely heated up on the field in Farm League action during Week Two.  

On Wednesday, Pennington & Meadows defeated Arborworks 12-5.  P&M was carried by the big bats of Dewsy Meadows, Grayson Weekley and Coleman Radcliff.  Hunter Brown and Nolin McInnis led Arborworks at the plate.  In the late game, Pepsi topped Palmetto Precision 13-5.  Evan Young and Trion McDonald continued to carry the load for Pepsi.  

On Thursday, First Citizens handed P&M their first loss of the season, 8-3.  Cole Winburn, Andrew Askins and Andrew Dameron had big nights for First Citizens.  In the nightcap, it came down to the wire for Arborworks and Palmetto Precision.  Ace Gibson, Law Hope and the Privette Brothers got things done at the dish for Palmetto Precision, but, in the end, it wasn't enough to top Arborworks.  With Shane Dillon and Bennett Laney on base and two outs in the bottom of the 6th, McKendrie Douglas cleared the bases with a walk off hit to lead A-Dub to a 5-4 victory. 

As it stands, Pepsi leads the league with a 3-0-1 record.  P&M is second at 2-1-1. Arborworks and First Citizens are both 2-2.  Palmetto Precision is 0-4.  

Farm League action continues next week, with games scheduled on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Week One Minors Update

Minors started last Monday, with Coach Steve Irick bringing his Darlington Packing team to face Coach Terry Quinn and his Masons crew. The matchup featured starting pitchers Brendan Lee of DP & Bennett Meadows of Masons. Errors ruled the day, with each team failing to make plays that could have essentially buried the other. Lee was followed by lefty Noah Hudson & right hander Josh Irick, while Meadows was followed by Matthew Quinn after 3 innings. In the end, the game clock expired after 5 innings, with neither team standing above the other. Score: 8-8

Game 2 on Monday paired Sonoco vs Carolina Bank. In a back-and-forth contest, pitchers Matthew Black of Sonoco & Manny Pendergrass of Carolina Bank looked strong, but what proved to be the talk of the night was a controversial run, which was later ruled a "non-run." The result, another draw: Sonoco 7, Carolina Bank 7

Tuesday began with Hall of Fame Coach Rob Teal of Allstate, who bolted for the Allstate job after winning the 8u championship last year with p+m, squaring off against Coach Matthew Smothers and his Sonoco team. No stats were shared from this contest, but Sonoco took the victory that night.

Game 2 on Tuesday paired Darlington Packing against SPC Credit Union. The two long time coaches, having moved through the ranks together, have quite a history of exciting games. This one started off much the same, as it remained close most of the way. No stats were offered from this game, but the winner was SPC... this time.

Thursday began with SPC facing Carolina Bank. Again, no stats were shared. SPC claimed the victory.

Game 2 on Thursday brought cold temps & lots of weather-braving, hot chocolate drinking fans as Allstate came to do battle with Masons. Ryan Jordan started the game on the mound for Masons, while DJ James played that role for Allstate. In a contest that featured only one hit -- a laser triple to right-center by Mason Kelley of, ironically, Masons -- the more seasoned Masons were able to manufacture 10 runs to claim the 10-0 victory.

Standings after week 1:

SPC 2-0-0
Masons 1-0-1
DP 1-0-1
Sonoco 1-0-1
Carolina Bank 0-1-1
Allstate 0-2-0

Ozone Week One Update

Our Ozone season got underway Tuesday night with Lions hosting Saleeby & Cox. There were not many stats reported for this game, but head coach Clyde Cassidy had his team ready for battle, as key contributors Harrison Corns, Keyshawn McDonald, & Cameron Glover conducted business as usual and came away with a victory.

Game 2 had Kiwanis playing host to the visiting Rotary. Jaquez Lucas & Max Cole each had solo homers in the first, to give Kiwanis the early lead. Dalton Flowers pitched 3 scoreless innings, striking out 4, for the mean green. Rotary's Babe Hough led the way for his team, roping a double during the contest. The nail in the coffin for Rotary, however, proved to be a 3-error, 4-run inning that iced the game for Kiwanis. Jaquez Lucas picked up the save. Final score: Kiwanis 7, Rotary 2.

Thursday night started with Rotary bouncing back with a victory over Lions, fueled by a 2-3 night at the plate (Single, Triple) by JD Pendergrass. Noah Skeen scored twice for Lions, but the team's effort came up short. Final, 13-7, Rotary.

Game 2 Thursday night pitted Saleeby & Cox against Kiwanis. In a pitchers duel, Keyshawn McDonald of SC fired 5 scoreless innings while Jaquez Lucas matched him through 4 1/3 innings. In the bottom of the 5th, Nick Catoe claimed home plate on a passed ball that proved to be the game winner as Dustin Kennedy closed the game on the hill for Kiwanis. Final score:
Kiwanis 1, Saleeby & Cox 0.

Standings after Week 1:

Kiwanis 2-0
Saleeby & Cox 1-1
Rotary 1-1
Lions 0-2

Rescheduled Games Announcement (3/18/14)

Mother Nature threw us a curveball this week and forced game cancellations on Monday and Tuesday (3/17 & 3/18). Here's how we'll make up the games:

Instructional League (6u) will play at scheduled times, changing the day from Tuesday to Thursday.

Farm League (8u) will play at scheduled times, changing the day from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Minors (10u) will make up on Wednesday, but times will change from the original schedule....

5:30 Sonoco v Masons, Field 6
5:30 Carolina Bank v Allstate, Field 8
7:15 Darlington Packing v SPC, Field 6
7:15 Masons v Carolina Bank, Field 8

Ozone (12u) will play at scheduled times, moving from Tuesday to Wednesday.

If Mother Nature cooperates, we will resume our normal schedule Thursday.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through the conflicts that arise with rescheduling games.

Farm League Update: Week One

After one week of Farm League action, it's the usual suspects at the top of the standings.  Pepsi (2-0-1) currently holds a half-game lead over the defending champs, Pennington & Meadows (1-0-1).  

Pepsi and P&M played to a 6-6 tie in the first game of the season.  League officials are currently working out a date to unknot the tie.  

Arborworks, affectionately known around the league as A-Dub, is in third with a week one record one 1-1.  First Citizens sits in fourth at 1-2.  Palmetto Precision Products is in fifth at 0-2.  

Farm League action will resume on Tuesday, March 18th.  Arborworks will take on P&m in the early game, with Palmetto Precision Products taking on Pepsi in the nightcap.  

All Games for the Week of March 3rd Have Been Postponed

Due to anticipated rain throughout the week (and near-freezing temperatures on Monday), Hartsville National will not be playing any games during the week of March 3rd. Information about rescheduling these games will be posted soon.