By Thomas Grant Jr.
Region 4-5A baseball rivals Lexington and River Bluff used Spring Break to stay competitive heading into the home stretch of the regular season.
The Gators and Wildcats participated in the Forest Acres Classic at Falcon Field on the campus of A.C. Flora High School. Each finished with 1-2 records as they took part in six of the 10 1-run games played in the tournament.
On Day One, River Bluff trailed Airport 7-4 in the Top 7th when Ab Wilkerson cleared the bases with a go-ahead grand slam.
The Eagles answered with an RBI single by Landon Jeffcoat to tie the game at 8-8. After retiring the Gators in order to start the eighth inning, Airport scored off a wild pitch for the walk off 9-8 win.
Later that evening, Lexington had a 4-0 lead after 4 ½ innings over the host team Falcons. A.C. Flora responded with a 4-run rally in the Bottom 5th and got a walk off RBI single by Ryan Wentzky for the 5-4 victory.
Day Two produced more 1-run drama for River Bluff and Lexington. The Gators built a 6-5 lead over Dorman as Braylon Dean went 3-3, including a 2-run homer.
It was déjà vu as the Cavaliers scored two runs in the Bottom 7th for the walk off 7-6 win.
Lexington found itself on the winning side of a comeback win. Down 10-4 in the Bottom 7th to eventual tournament runner-up Indian Land, the Wildcats erupted for seven runs off two home runs and four hits for the 11-10 win.
Allen Hegler hit a solo home run to start the comeback and Cross George ended it with a walk off 3-run homer.
The final day for the Gators saw them pick their first tournament victory. Making the 6-5 win even more satisfying was it occurred against eventual tournament champion T.C. Roberson out of Asheville, N.C.
Wilkerson had a 2-run home run, Ashley Powell had a 2-run single and Brooks Hemphill retired the final five batters to earn the win in relief.
Dominic Norton was named to the All-Tournament team and Mac Rains was selected to the All-Academic Team for River Bluff.
Lexington faced defending tournament champion Miller School (Charlottesville, Va.) in its final game. The Wildcats led 3-2 before giving up runs in the fifth and sixth innings for the 4-3 loss.
“Playing good people in playoff atmosphere helps you for those moments in May,” said River Bluff head coach Mark Bonnette, who’s won eight FAC tournaments in his career. “So, playing against good opponents with a good atmosphere, good crowd, tight games, I think we’ll handle it better the next time. That’s the hope as a coach is that the more you’re in those situations, your guys can relax and play. Hopefully, that’s what we’ll get from this.”
“I’m proud the way we competed this week and look forward to seeing how this continues to grow,” Lexington head coach Brian Hucks said.
(Photo by Forest Acres Classic)
