Photos by GoFlashwin.com
By Thomas Grant Jr.
The resilient post-season run that saw River Bluff baseball prevail in four elimination games ended Saturday night at defending Class 5A Division I champion James Island.
The Gators fell 3-1 to the Trojans last Saturday in the deciding game. A Sam Turner sacrifice fly to give River Bluff a first inning lead was its lone run of the game.
James Island’s pitching trio of Dawson Baldner, Taj Marchand and Brayden Easterling combined to allow just four hits and strike out five.
River Bluff had baserunners on first and second with two outs in its last at-bat. However, Turner lined out to rightfield to end the season.
Just two days earlier, the Gators forced a deciding game after rallying from a 9-0 deficit for an 11-10 win.
Banks Alexander ignited the comeback with a 3-run homer as part of a 4-run third inning. River Bluff then tied the game at 9-9 in the fourth inning with a 5-run rally.
After James Island reclaimed the lead in the Bottom 4th with a double by Marchand, Wes Godwin connected with the go-ahead 2-run homer in the fifth inning.
Marchand attempted to score the potential game-tying run with two outs in the seventh inning. However, he was thrown out at homeplate to end the game.
River Bluff finished the season with a 17-10 record.
