Coming off of a wild and crazy first half, it seemed almost impossible for the second half of our Farm League season to live up to the hype. Well, if week one of the second half is any indication, it will. There were two dramatic walk-offs and the two teams that didn’t compete for the first half championship won their first games of the second half.
And wrap your head around this: Pepsi and First Citizens both scored 21 runs in their games this week. First Citizens is 2-0. Pepsi is 0-2.
On Tuesday, Palmetto Precision, led by the veteran coaching staff of Trey Gibson and Lawrence Hope, opened the second half with an 11-7 victory over Mark Goudelock’s Pennington & Meadows Lions. Dewsy Meadows, Grayson Weekley and Bam Bam Fischer’s big bats were not enough to defeat the sound defensive play of Ace Gibson, Tagan Roscoe, Cooper Griggs and Law Hope.
In the nightcap, First Citizens throttled Pepsi 12-3. Cole Winburn and company were able to shut down the Pepsi bats (which, as you will see, is no small feat). Pepsi’s Liam Thompson had an impressive game and one particularly impressive inning on the hot corner. Thompson made all three outs in the first inning. He caught one pop up, one line shot and threw a runner out at first base. Way to go, Liam!
On Thursday, First Citizens and Palmetto Precision squared off in defensive battle. Late in the game, both teams bats began to heat up. The score stood tied 8-8 with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. After a rip by Andrew Dameron and a play at the plate, it appeared we were headed to extra innings. After a quick conference between the umpires and coaches, it was determined that the runner was safe at home due to defensive interference. That base knock by Dameron turned out to be our night’s first walk-off.
How could the drama of the first game be matched? With an all-out assault of the baseball by Pepsi and Arborworks, of course. Through two innings, Arborworks appeared to have the game in hand, up 9-4. In the third, Pepsi made its move by retiring ADub in order after putting up a five-spot of their own. The score stood tied 9-9 after three.
The two offensive juggernauts continued to light up the scoreboard. The game was tied 18-18 with Arborworks on the attack in the home half of the last inning. Only 60 feet stood between Bennett Laney and an Arborworks victory. Quez Hadley stepped to the plate with two outs. Hadley hit a chopper toward third. Relying on speed alone, Hadley beat the throw to first as Laney crossed the plate. Arborworks went home victorious in their second half opener, 19-18.
Trion McFarland, Evan Young, Zach Lynch and Lan Holloman led Pepsi at the dish. McKendrie Douglas, Quez Hadley, Nolan McInnis and Xander Kelley were swinging hot sticks for the Green & Black Lumberjacks.
Simply put, Hartsville National Farm League action is fantastic! Come join us at the ballpark.
2nd Half Standings
First Citizens 2-0
Arborworks 1-0
PPP 1-1
P&M 0-1
Pepsi 0-2
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