Four-run fourth propels Darlington past Hartsville
Darlington’s hitting game was on point against Hartsville, giving them a 5 to 1 victory, Wednesday, June 7.
Photo by Drake Horton
By Drake Horton, Contributing Writer
A four-run bottom of the fourth inning by Darlington Post 13 junior legion baseball was more than enough to secure a 5-1 victory over Hartsville’s junior legion team this past Wednesday.
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Darlington’s Jaques and Jalin Mullins made their presence known to all of the visiting Hartsville fans.
Leading off the inning, Jaques blasted a solo homer over the left-center field wall and Post 13 did not stop there.
“I just need to hit for my team,” Jaques said. “Coach told me to keep my hands up and stop dropping and I just made an adjustment at the next at-bat.”
Following the homer, Hartsville was able to get two quick outs and it looked like that was going to be all of the offense Darlington was going to get in the inning, but first baseman Tanner Vause reached first after being hit by a pitch and that seemed to open Pandora’s box.
With Vause on first and two outs, catcher Trae Buck and outfielder Jaquan Hickman had back-to-back singles to load the bases for Jalin, who hit a bases clearing double due to a misjudgment by the Hartsville left fielder.
Darlington added one more run in the fifth inning when Buck walked with the bases loaded.
“We hit in spots, I thought we left way too many guys on base, but overall I thought the effort was better tonight,” Darlington head coach Dennis Gearhart said. “We played a pretty good baseball game.”
Hartsville’s lone run came in the top of the third inning and that was the only blemish starting pitcher Keshawn Taylor had the entire game, going the distance while throwing only 70 pitches.
“I can’t do it without my teammates,” Taylor said. “I had a great game from my middle infielders.”
From start to finish he kept the Hartsville hitters off balance and Darlington’s defense was just as outstanding, turning a double play in three consecutive innings.
“Keshawn came in and pounded the strike zone, 70 pitches in seven innings and only one strikeout which means we had to play some pretty good defense behind it,” Gearhart said. “We had three double plays tonight which is absolutely huge. Had a couple of errors, but they didn’t cost us and that was beneficial.”
The win was Darlington first region win of the young season with Post 13’s overall regular season record improving to 1-1, overall, 1-1 in the region.