BOILING SPRINGS, SC - The Boiling Springs baseball team has become accustomed to being the comeback kids and on Monday night it was no different as the Bulldogs waited for the last two innings of an eight inning game to defeat TL Hanna 2-1 in an elimination bracket game/
With the victory the Bulldogs return to familiar territory from the district playoffs as they'll now travel to Blythewood looking to win two against the team that put them in the elimination bracket to begin the Upper State series. "We like to make it interesting here at Boiling Springs," said Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lipscomb with a laugh. "What do you say about a group like that as it would have been easy to quit after going down 1-0 but it shows what kind of leadership we have with this team. We're one of the few teams still getting to play baseball this time of year and we're thrilled to get the opportunity to play for the Upper State championship on Wednesday." Through the first five innings Boiling Springs pitcher Jackson Cole and TL Hanna pitcher Easton Thomas both were pitching masterpieces as neither allowed the other team to cross home plate while barely allowing any baserunners. In the top of the sixth inning, the Yellow Jackets drew first blood when Owen Alexander worked a walk before advancing to third base on a groundout as the Bulldogs defenders weren't able to get back to cover third base after a groundout to third base. The Yellow Jackets scored the first run of the game when Seth Manning dropped a single just out of the Boiling Springs second baseman's reach to go up 1-0 before Cole struck out the final batter of the inning. Boiling Springs was unable to get a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Cole kept the Bulldogs close as he struck out all three batters for the Yellow Jackets in the top of the seventh inning for 10 strikeouts in the game. "Jackson was really good tonight," said Lipscomb. "He was so good all night long as he just competes. He had a big part in helping us beat a really good team tonight." In the bottom of the seventh inning, Bulldogs senior Corben Childers worked a walk before being pinch ran for by Andrew Coley. On the next at-bat after two bunt attempts went foul and Coley advanced to second base on a wild pitch, Chansen Cole uncorked a pitch to deep left field that fell just feet short of a game-winning home run but turned into a RBI triple as the Bulldogs tied the game at 1-1. On the next at-bat Cole got caught in a squeeze bunt attempt that didn't materialize and was thrown out trying to get back to third base but the damage had been done as the Bulldogs sent the game into extra innings with the game tied at 1-1. The top of the eighth inning saw the leadoff batter reach base on a walk for TL Hanna but a heads up play between Bulldogs catcher Hudson Wilson and second baseman Chansen Cole saw them pickoff the Yellow Jackets runner for one out in the inning. "I saw the first time that he went around that the runner got a huge lead so I talked to Chansen at second and made a motion to him," said Wilson. "He done it again the next time and I was able to get the throw down and get him out." After the pickoff, Bulldogs reliever Josh Kanipe forced a flyout to third base before striking out the next batter sent the Bulldogs to the bottom half of the inning with a chance to win the game. With one out in the bottom half of the inning, Bulldogs senior centerfielder Luke Compton singled to right field before advancing to third base on a single to right centerfield by Justin Dawkins. The Bulldogs with runners on the corners saw one of their leaders get a clutch hit as senior catcher Hudson Wilson hit a game winning single to right centerfield scoring Compton giving Boiling Springs a 2-1 victory and sending them to the championship game of the 5A Upper State championship. "I just went to the plate trying to be simple and get a deep flyball," said Wilson. "I knew it didn't matter if it got down, I just needed to get the ball in the air. Throughout the game I just tried to stay middle backside and get the ball up the middle in each at-bat." Wilson led the Bulldogs going three of four at the plate with three singles and a RBI as he registered three of the Bulldogs six hits in the game. Wilson has been a special player for the Bulldogs during his career as he's gone from the outfield to shortstop, to catcher in his four seasons playing varsity baseball. "It was hard transferring to catcher at first because I really liked playing the infield," said Wilson. "I've gotten used to it and have gotten to where I like it a lot more though now because I enjoy throwing people out." The willingness to chance positions like he has done for the betterment of the team just shows his character according to Coach Lipscomb. "Hudson is a team first type of guy and that's his motto," said Lipscomb. "He was starting in the infield, and we had a big time need behind the plate last year and he steps up and does a great job. He's just an athlete and after debating on making the move to catcher he worked hard and earned him a scholarship playing the position." Boiling Springs will now turn their attention to Blythewood in a better situation than they saw them the first time as the Bulldogs will have a majority of their pitching available. The Bulldogs will have to win two to advance to the 5A state championship series and the first game at Blythewood will begin at 5:00 PM. "Blythewood is a very talented group but we belong there just like they do," said Lipscomb. "We don't look up to any other team as our focus is on ourself. We believe in ourselves and are going to fight to the end. We've done this before and plan on doing it again before playing for a state championship." Comments are closed.
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