SOCASTEE BRAVES ARE MINGO BAY CHAMPS

The Braves crushed the St. James Sharks for the second time this season, defeating them 11-1 in a mercy invoked rule game.  Carlos Fernandez pitched the complete 5 innings scattering 4 hits while walking one and striking out three with the only run scoring in the first inning after a lead off walk. The Braves gave him plenty of support scoring 3 in the first and 4 in the second as Carlos seemed to get stronger as the game went on.  

While Carlos did a fantastic job on the mound the day belonged to Charlie Nicholson who hit two home runs, knocked in 5 runs and scored twice. Charlie is 6 for 7  and has now hit 4 home runs and knocked in 11 runs versus St. James, including grand slams home runs in both games.

The Braves responded to the Sharks single run in the first with three of their own.  Dylan Thompson singled and moved to second when the left fielder misplayed the ball.  After a ground out, Dalton Smith and Walker Darnell walked with Dylan scoring on a wild pitch during Walker's at bat.  Manny Berdayes then hit a sinking line drive off the right fielder glove to knock in Dalton and give the Braves the lead.  Walker would then score on another wild pitch to make it 3-1.

Carlos held the Sharks and got the Braves to the plate for their second inning.  Chase Keevert led the inning off with a walk and after a pitching change, Zach Hyde walked on 4 pitches.  Hunter Renfrow then layed down a bunt base hit to load the bases.  After an infield fly, Charlie Nicholson launched a 2-2 pitch into orbit (this one had more flight time than a Korean rocket) for a grand slam and a 7-1 Brave lead.  The Braves went down quietly in the third, but Charlie came up again in the fourth and crushed the first pitch he saw for a screaming hooking line drive over the left field fence for another home run and a 8-1 Brave lead.

The Braves delivered the knock out blows in the fifth inning scoring three runs.  Walker Darnell led off the inning with a blast of his own that seemed to defy the laws of gravity as it bounced off the roof of the house beyond the left field fence and continued to travel up and away from the ball park hitting the roof a second time.  One out later, Kenny Taylor slapped a ball inside the third base bag into left field for a double.  Chase Keevert  reached on an infield single and  Zach Hyde loaded the bases with a single to center.  Hunter Renfrow then bounced one between third and short for an rbi single and a 10-1 lead. Hunter hustled to second and beat the shortstop to the bag in an attempted double play of Dylan Thompson's grounder.  Although Dylan was out at first, Chase Keevert scored from third with the  knock out run.  

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MINGO BAY CHAMPIONS SOCASTEE BRAVES.

DYLAN THOMPSON PITCHES BRAVES PAST CICERO, NY 1-0

Dylan Thompson pitched a gutsy game going the distance to shut out the powerful, Cicero, NY team.  The 1-0 victory moves the Braves into the championship game.  Dylan pitched his best with runners on base while continuously slamming the door on Cicero scoring threats.  Cicero had runners on base in 6 innings (four innings in scoring position) as he pitched around three hits, five walks, a hit batter and a Socastee error.  Dylan also stuck out six, including the last 2 outs of the game. 

The Braves managed seven hits with the most important being a one out rbi double by Charlie Nicholson which brought home Hunter Renfrow with the eventual winning run in the third inning.  Hunter led off the inning with a sharply hit single to right field, Dylan Thompson then helped himself by moving Hunter to second with a successful sacrifice bunt, to bring up Charlie.   Offensively, Hunter Renfrow, Charlie Nicholson and Manny Berdayes each had two hits and Walker Darnell had one and reached on a hit by pitch.  

BRAVES WIN 11-0 OVER WESTFIELD TO MOVE INTO CHAMPIONSHIP

Bubba Martin pitched a complete 5 inning mercy rule shortened game to get his first varsity victory.  Bubba yielded only three singles and no runs while striking out four.  Offensively, the Braves were led by Dalton Smith's two home runs and 4 rbi's.  The Braves scored in the first and cruised to the win behind Bubba.  

Hunter Renfrow led off the first with a double and came around to score on a Charlie Nicholson rbi double.  Dalton Smith then deposited a 3-1 pitch way over the right field fence for a two run homer and a 3-0 lead.

Dalton would strike again in the third inning with another two run blast, scoring Charlie whom had reached on an error.  The Braves put the game away in the fourth with a 6 run barrage.  Buck Baco led off the inning by getting hit with a pitch and advanced to second when Tyler Dillon walked on four pitches.  Hunter Renfrow would follow with a single to load the bases.  Dylan Thompson pushed across the first run of the inning on a sac fly which also moved Tyler to third.   The Braves then executed a double steal to score another run as Hunter Renfrow swiped second and Tyler stole home on the throw to second.  Dalton Smith walked and Walker Darnell reached on an error to reload the bases.  Manny Berdayes then drove the first pitch he saw into right center for a three run double.  The Braves capped the scoring when Zach Hyde, running for Manny, would score when Finn Melko reached on an error.  

COMEBACK WIN FOR BRAVES ! 10-7 OVER BLUE FIELD

The Braves came back after trailing 7-4 going into the bottom of the fifth, with a big 7 run inning to go onto win 10-7.  Trevor Bigham pitched two innings to pick up the win in relief of Austin Schmitz whom started for the Braves and Kyle Smith got the save with two innings of scoreless relief.  Offensively, Chase Keevert had one of the big blows as he hit a bases loaded pinch hit double to drive in two and get the Braves to within one run. Tyler Dillon followed with a Sacrifice fly to tie the game.   Dalton Smith was 3-4 with two runs and an rbi.  Hunter Renfrow was 2-4 with a double and monster home run, scoring 2 and knocking in two.  Charlie Nicholson stroked a double and scored. Manny Berdayes was 2-3, scoring once while being hit with a pitch and stealing a base.  Walker Darnell was on base three times with a double a walk and being hit by pitch while scoring twice and stealing a base.  And Dylan Thompson scored once on a walk and drove a run in with a sac fly.  Zach Hyde was hit by a pitch with a stolen base and a run scored. 

BRAVES OPEN WEEK 2 OF MINGO BAY WITH VICTORY OVER PENNFIELD, 6-2

Chase Keevert pitched 4 2/3 innings to pick up his fifth victory of the season and Carlos Fernandez pitched 2 1/3 innings of shutout ball to pick up the save.  The Braves trailed 1-0 until the bottom of the third when they scored two runs with a two out rally to take the lead.    

Dalton Smith delivered a two run single to knock in Dylan Thompson who started the rally with a single and Charlie Nicholson who reached on an error.  

The Braves would extend their lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Hunter Renfrow smashed a two rbi triple to knock in Hayden Miller (whom reached on an error), and Walker Darnell who singled.  Hunter would then score himself on a wild pitch.  The Braves would score one more run on singles by Charlie, Dalton and Kenny Taylor.

Rain Forces the cancellation of the Championships games for the first week of Mingo Bay tournament.

BRAVES COME FROM BEHIND TO DEFEAT GEORGE WASHINGTON 10-7

The Braves had to come from five runs down to defeat George Washington 10-7 and win their bracket of pool play in week one of Mingo Bay tournaments.  Uncharacteristically, the Braves starting pitching faltered early allowing GW to score 7 runs in the first two innings.  The Braves fell behind 4-0 after one half inning, but cut the lead in half during their at bat.  Hunter Renfrow led off with a double and Charlie Nicholson smashed a two run home run to make it a 4-2 ball game.  

GW would strike for three more runs in the second inning, before Carlos Fernandez would come in and stop the bleeding.  Socastee would scratch out a run in the second inning on aggressive base running. Zach Hyde led off with a hit and moved to second on a walk to Hunter Renfrow.  Zach scampered on to third base when the pitcher and infielders relaxed momentarily.  This was a key extra base as he later scored on an infield ground out.

Carlos would hold George Washington in check, pitching 5 innings without allowing a run as he would go on to get the win when the Braves rallied.  Trailing 7-3, the Braves would cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fourth.  Finn Melko led the inning off with a hit and moved to third on Zach Hyde's double to left center.  Hunter Renfrow walked to load the bases before Dylan Thomspon knocked Melko in with an infield gournder.   Charlie Nicholson was walked intentionally to reload the bases and Dalton Smith would get an rbi on a four pitch walk to make the score 7-5.  The Braves would erupt for 5 runs two innings later to net the final 10-7 score.

Zach Hyde would once again be the catalyst to start the inning as he worked out a walk.  After an infield error allowed Zach to move to third and Hunter to reach safely, Dylan Thompson singled sharply to center to knock in a run and cut the deficit to one.  Dalton Smith would then walk to load the bases before Walker Darnell delivered a game tying line drive single to left to tie the ball game at 7.   Manny Berdayes would then deliver the go ahead runs on a two rbi double and Finn Melko would push across another on a fielders choice to make it a 10-7 game.

Kyle Smith pitched a perfect 7 inning to notch the save for the Braves.

BRAVES CRUISE TO 9-1 VICTORY OVER GAR-FIELD

Austin Schmitz pitched a complete game to propel the Braves to victory.  Austin scattered four hits giving up just one first inning run while striking out seven to get his second varsity win.  Gar-field's lead would be brief as the Braves would strike for two runs in the first inning to take the lead for good, as Austin would go on to post 6 shut out innings.  

Hunter Renfrow led off the game with a single and moved to third on Dylan Thompson's double.  After Dalton Smith walked, Manny Berdayes lifted a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game.  Walker Darnell then singled to reload the bases and Tyler Dillon Walked to force in a run and give the Braves the lead.  The game would remain 2-1 until the bottom of the fifth when the Braves would score another two.

Dylan Thompson led off the fifth with a single to right center and Charlie Nicholson doubled, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd.  Dalton Smith crushed a line drive right at the second baseman for the fist out and Manny Berdayes would follow with another sac fly. Walker Darnell then stroked a double to drive in another run and give the Braves a 4-1 lead.  

The Braves would put the game away with five runs in the sixth.  Hunter Renfrow led off with a hit and after two errors and two hit batsmen, Chase Keevert laced a hit to center for two rbi's to give the Braves an 8-1 lead.  The Braves would score once more on an RJ Bethea rbi single.  Offensively, Hunter Renfrow, Dylan Thompson and Charlie Nicholson  had two hits and two runs scored. Manny Berdayes had a hit and two sac flys.  Walker Darnell was 3-3 with a double, run and an rbi.  Chase Keevert was 1-1 with a walk and two rbi's and RJ Bethea had a single and rbi. 

BRAVES WIN FIRST GAME OF MINGO BAY, 2-1

Dylan Thompson started for the Braves and pitched 6 strong innings, giving up just 3 hits and one run.  The South Range Raiders from Ohio started the game with a soft single up the middle and a bunt basehit to put two runners on with no outs, but Dylan would then induce two grounders to second, allowing a run to score,  and would get a strikeout to end the inning without any further damage.  

The Braves offense was not its potent self and could muster only a total of 4 hits.  In the third inning Finn Melko led off with a base hit but was erased by a double play.  The Braves got the lead off hitter on board again in the fifth when Kenny Taylor reached on an error.  But the Braves would fail to score as a strikeout and another double play ended the inning. Still trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth and time running out, Walker Darnell started the inning with a base hit and moved to second an an error by the left fielder.  Hunter Renfrow would then get hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs.  After a failed sacrifice, Charlie Nicholson would then reach on an error to load the bases with one out.  Dalton Smith then lifted a fly ball that would be dropped by the center fielder, the Raiders third error of the inning, to tie the game at 1-1 and leave the bases loaded.  The Braves would fail to score again as a runner was erased trying to score on a wild pitch and they could not muster a two out hit. 

Kyle Smith relieved Thompson in the seventh and picked up the win as he pitched a perfect inning striking out one.  Kenny Taylor reached on an error to lead off the seventh (on the Raiders 6th error of the game).  After unsuccessfully attempting to sacrifice the runner to second, Kyle Smith laced the hardest hit ball by the Braves in the game into center field for a single.  Finn Melko would then lay down a successful sacrifice bunt and would reach safely to load the bases when Kenny Taylor beat the fielders choice at third.  Walker Darnell would then crack his second hit of the game into left field to deliver the walk off blow. 

BRAVES SLAM SHARKS WIN 11-3

The Braves remained unbeaten in district play and handed St. James their first loss, with a resounding 11-3 victory. Charlie Nicholson led Socastee with two home runs and two hits and six rbi's.  Socastee got 9 hits from their Seniors as they pounded out 15 total hits, and Senior pitcher Chase Keevert got his third win of the season pitching 6 gutsy innings giving up 3 runs on 7 hits while walking two and striking out 3.

The night got off to a rocky start as the first two St. James hitters connected for solo home runs.  The second one was a high fly ball that got wind blown over the fence.  St. James managed to get two more runners on base on a hit batsman and an error, but Chase stepped up and recorded a strikeout for the third out of the inning.  The Braves answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, when Seniors Charlie Nicholson and Manny Berdayes combined on a hit and a run scoring double to cut the lead to 2-1.  St. James recaptured their two run lead in the top of second when they hit another wind aided homer that just scraped off the glove of  leaping left fielder Walker Darnell.  The score would remain 3-1 until the bottom of the fourth when Socastee would erupt for 6 runs.

Senior,  Walker Darnell led off the Braves half with a laser into right field for a single and was followed by a beautiful bunt by Senior Hayden Miller whom hustled safely to first when the throw pulled the first baseman off the bag.  Zach Hyde then was called on to sacrifice, and executed a perfect bunt for a base hit to load the bases with no outs.  Hunter Renfrow followed, lacing a liner to center for an rbi single to cut the lead to 3-2.  Dylan Thompson tied the game on an infield hit to set the stage for the Senior.  After falling behind in the count, 0-2, Charlie Nicholson belted a blast far over the left field fence for a grand slam homer putting the Braves ahead, 7-4.    

Senior, Chase Keevert took to the mound in the top of the 5th and mowed down the 2,3 and 4 hitters for St. James on just six pitches to get the Braves back to the plate.  Senior, Walker got the rally started again leading off with a walk.  One out later, Zack Hyde hit a home run over the left field wall for two rbi's to push the lead to 9-3.  But the Braves were not done yet, Hunter Renfrow followed with his second single of the game to once again set the stage for the senior.  Charlie Nicholson belted a long, long shot over the center field fence for for another two run shot to make the score 11-3.

Senior, Chase Keevert, then pitched out of trouble in the sixth inning working around two walks and  a base hit as the defense turned in a beautiful 543 double play, as Dylan fielded a grounder, threw to Zack who pivoted a strike to Charlie at first.  Kyle Smith came into the game in the seventh and slammed the door shut, striking out the side on blazing fastballs and a wicked curve.

Offensively:

Charlie Nicholson,  2 singles, 2 home runs, 6 rbi's, 3 runs and a stolen base.

Manny Berdayes, 2 singles, double, rbi

Hunter Renfrow, 3 singles, 2 runs, rbi

Zach Hyde, single, home run, 2 runs, 2 rbi's

Walker Darnell, single, 2 runs

Dylan Thompson, single, rbi

Kenny Taylor, single

Hayden Miller, sacrifice, run

Dalton Smith, walk, hit by pitch

  

BRAVES SPLIT DOUBLE HEADER AT THE RIPKEN COMPLEX AGAINST TWO OUT OF STATE TEAMS.

In the first game the Braves defeated Arkansas Greenwave Eagles 6-4.  They lost the nightcap 2-1 to the Gilman Greyhounds, from Maryland.

Austin Schmitz started the first game and pitched extremely well holding the Eagles to 2 earned runs (4 total)  on six hits, giving up no walks while striking out 5 in four and a third innings.  Trevor Bigham pitched the final  2 1/3 scoreless innings to get the save, giving up two hits and striking out one.

Offensively, Hunter Renfrow had two hits and three rbi's (sb) and Charlie Nicholson also had two hits with two rbi's (sb), one of those a long triple off the left field wall that would have been out of most high school fields.  Dalton Smith also had two hits and a walk, a single and a long double to right center. (also out of the park at most high schools).  Zach Hyde collected a single and scored a run and Walker Darnell walked and scored a run, and Manny Berdayes had an rbi.

The Second game was a pitchers duel between the Braves' Carlos Fernandez and Gilman's Ryan Ripken (yes, the son of the great Hall of Famer, Cal Ripken).  Carlos gave a fantastic effort, going 5 2/3 innings giving up only 2 runs on 6 hits while walking two and striking out 1.   The second walk turned out to be the difference in the game.  With the game tied at one in the sixth inning, Carlos issued a one out walk to Gavin Sheets (son of former major league player and Cal Ripken teammate with the Baltimore Orioles and current Gilman head coach -  Larry Sheets).  Sheets then stole second and came home on a Tom O'Neil single (no relation to Paul Oneil - former Yankee player - or any other major league player - that we know off),  The Braves managed only a single run on a hit from Manny Berdayes (H, R, Sac) and a long double to right field by Walker Darnell (rbi).  The Braves could only collect three more hits, one each from Charlie Nicholson, Kenny Taylor and Zach Hyde. 

BRAVES DEFEAT WILSON AGAIN AND SWEEP THE SEASON SERIES WITH 8-0 WIN

Dylan Thompson  pitched a complete game shutout, yielding only 4 hits while striking out 8 to get the win 8-0.  He got plenty of defensive and offensive support as Hunter Renfrow and Charlie Nicholson both had defensive web gems and Chase Keevert and Charlie Nicholson executed a perfect relay to Manny Berdayes to tag out the only scoring threat for Wilson.  In the third inning Finn Melko made a charging off balance throw on a sacrifice bunt to nip the batter at first and Charlie then pegged the ball back to third, which was alertly covered by a  Walker Darnell who hustled from left field,  to complete the double play.  

The Braves got on the board in the first inning when Manny Berdayes (2B, BB, Rbi) doubled in Hunter Renfrow (H, R, HBP)  who got hit to lead off the game.  They pushed another run across in the second when Dylan Thompson (3B, BB, 3R, 2RBI, SB) led off with a walk, stole second and scored on an a single by Charlie Nicholson (H, BB, R, RBI, SB).  In the fifth the Braves scored three times on just one hit.  The rally started with one out when Dylan reached on an error.  Charlie walked and Manny was intentionally walked after the pitcher fell behind 2-0, as the Tigers looked to load the bases and take their chances with Kenny Taylor.  The plan backfired, as Kenny (H, 2B, 4 Rbi's) roped the first pitch he saw for a 3 rbi bases clearing double.  The Braves put the game away in the sixth inning scoring three more.  Hayden Miller (H, R) and Hunter led off with a sharp singles and Dylan followed with a gapper to left center for a 2 rbi triple and would come around to score as Kenny delivered a two out single for his fourth rbi of the game and the final score of 8-0.

BRAVES DEFEAT SEAHAWKS AGAIN AND SWEEP THE SEASON SERIES WITH   WIN, 7-6

The Braves defeated the Myrtle Beach Seahawks by a run for the second time this season to remain undefeated in region play and kept the Seahawks win-less in the district, sending them to last place 3.5 games behind the Braves. 

Charlie Nicholson knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the 7th inning, leaving the visiting Seahawks on the field and giving the Braves a 7-6 walk off victory.  With the game tied at 6 in the bottom of the seventh, Zach Hyde (H,2R) led off with a base hit to left for the Braves.  Hunter Renfrow (2H, R, Sac) then executed a perfect sacrifice bunt advancing Zach to second.  Dylan Thompson (2H, R, BB, 2 RBI) followed with a bloop single to left with Zach advancing to third on heads up base running.  The Seahawks then intentionally walked Kenny Taylor to load the bases in hopes of a force out or double play from the next batter.  The plan quickly backfired as Charlie drove the second pitch past the third baseman into left field for his game winning rbi hit.  Charlie had three hits in the game, a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored.  

The Seahawks scored two early runs (1 unearned) in the top of the first.  But the Braves were quick to respond in their half of the inning with a Dylan Thompson walk, a single by Charlie and a Manny Berdayes (HR, R, 3 RBI) three run homer over the right field fence. The Braves added two more in the second on a hit by Hunter, a walk by Hayden Miller and a two run rbi double by Dylan Thompson over the left fielders head.  They also tacked on a run in the third, as Charlie singled, stole second and hustled to third on the errant throw.  He then scored on a wild pitch to give the Braves a comfortable 6-2 lead.  

Kyle Smith started for the Braves and pitched 5 complete innings,  giving up 5 runs (4 earned) and 8 hits.  Dylan Thompson relieved in the sixth and struck out 4 of his 6 outs to become the eventual game winning pitcher, after surrendering an unearned run to tie it at 6 in the sixth inning.  Setting up Charlie's heroics in the seventh.  

BRAVES LOSE TO PANTHERS, 7-6 (March 15)

In a very competitive game that saw three lead changes, the Braves just came up short in the end and suffered a defeat to Carolina Forest.

As the Braves had done in two of its first three games, they again scored in the first inning.  And as in our prior game, Hunter Renfrow (H, R) , Dylan Thompson, (2H, R) and Charlie Nicholson (3 hits, RBI)  led off the game with singles, with Charlie knocking in a run for a 1-0 lead.    Manny Berdayes (2B, RBI) would then bounce a ball that the second baseman would throw away allowing him to reach safely and a run to score.  Kenny Taylor (H, R)  would then reload the bases with a single into left center before Walker Darnell (2B, BB, SAC, RBI) would deliver a sacrifice fly to plate another run giving the Braves a 3-0 lead.  

Charlie Nicholson started for the Braves and pitched two scoreless innings before yielding 4 runs in the third on a walk a hit batsman and two homers (one appeared to be a pop fly that just kept going in the wind). 

However, the Braves would answer right back in the bottom of the third with another three runs to retake the lead at 6-4. The big blow came off the bat of Zach Hyde (2B, 3 RBI)  whom delivered a bases clearing three rbi double after the Braves had loaded the bases with  Kenny Taylor reaching on a strikeout and consecutive walks to Walker Darnell and Hayden Miller. Hayden put together a tremendous at bat and battled for 12 pitches before getting the free pass. 

Carolina Forest would cut the lead to 6-5 in the fourth as the Braves relief pitcher faltered and walked the bases loaded before being replaced by Carlos Fernandez whom worked out of the jam by yielding only a run on a sacrifice fly.  He worked 3 2/3 innings of good relief and took the unfortunate loss as his errant throw pulled Charlie off the bag at first on a routine come backer to the pitcher and was then victimized by Carolina Forests' second wind blown two run homer of the game, that would give them the eventual 7-6 win.  

The Braves did not go down quietly threatening in both the 6th and 7th innings, with runners on second and only one out, but could not manage to push the tying run across.

BRAVES BEAT BULLDOGS, 4-2  (March 13)

The Braves scored all the runs they would need in the first inning, as they struck for 3 quick runs and then turned it over to starting pitcher Chase Keevert and the defense.

Chase Keevert picked up his second win and complete games of the season as he blanked the Bulldogs for 6 innings, allowing only 2 runs (1 earned) as the Bulldogs tried to rally with two outs in the seventh.  Chase pitched effectively striking out 6,  while giving up 7 hits and three 3 walks and allowed his defense to work behind him.  And the defense came up big in each of the first three innings.  

In the first inning, the Bulldogs loaded the bases with just one out before Chase struck out the fifth hitter and then Dylan Thompson snagged a bouncer moving to his left and forcing the final out of the inning at second base.   In the second inning, Walker Darnell made a diving catch on a sinking line drive recording the second out of the inning to help strand another runner,  as the inning would end like the first with Dylan stopping a hard hit ball and forcing the runner at second.  The Braves defense snuffed out another potential rally in the third inning, as the Bulldogs put two runners on with only one out, when Kenny Taylor backhanded a hard hit grounder in the shortstop hole and whirled a throw to Zach Hyde at second for the first out and he quickly pivoted a throw to a stretching Charlie Nicholson at first to complete the inning ending double play.  Dylan Thompson also turned in a heads up play in the sixth inning when he bobbled a grounder with a runner on first, but quickly recovered and threw behind the runner rounding second and caught him in an inning ending run down.

Offensively, the Braves recorded three straight singles to start the game off the bats of Hunter Renfrow (H,BB R) , Dylan Thompson (2 hits, R, RBI) and Charlie Nicholson (2 hits, BB).  After two strikeouts and a wild pitch that scored a run , Dalton Smith (2B, BB, 2 RBI) delivered a big 2 RBI double to put the Braves ahead 3-0.  The Braves would then go hit less until sixth inning when the they threatened but could not score.  With one out Charlie walked and Manny Berdayes hit a double to put runners on second and third, but they were left stranded.  In the seventh the Braves added an insurance run as Kyle Smith received a one out walk and was quickly sacrificed to second by Zach Hyde.  The Bulldogs then walked Hunter Renfrow intentionally to get to Dylan Thompson, whom made them pay with an RBI single to left.  

BRAVES TROUNCE WILSON TIGERS 11-1 (March 9)

Lack of umpires delayed the start of the game by almost an hour, which only delayed the inevitable outcome of the Braves besting the Tigers.  Wilson hung tough for the first two innings as the teams played to a 0 to 0 tie. However, the Braves smashed through in the top of the third as Chase Keevert led off with sharp single to right center, the first of his two hits on the day and two outs later Charlie Nicholson blasted a shot over the left field fence for a home run to give the Braves a 2-0 lead.  

In the fourth, the Braves scored 5 more times to take a commanding 7-0 lead.  Kenny Taylor (H, 2R, BB) led off the inning with a hit and was followed by a beautiful bunt base hit by Hayden Miller (H, R).  Walker Darnell (H, 2 BB, 2 SB, RBI, SAC) then executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third for Zach Hyde (2B, R, 2 RBI) who blasted a two run double into the left center field gap. Chase Keevert and Dylan Thompson (2H, 2R, RBI) connected rbi hits and Charlie Nicholson followed with another long blast for an rbi triple to cap the scoring.  But the Braves were not done yet and walked home another 4 runs in the top of the 6th Inning.  Hunter Renfrow (H, R) led off the inning with an infield hit and Dylan Thompson collected his second base hit of the ball game on an excellently executed hit and run play.  After two outs, Kenny Taylor collected the first of 5 consecutive walks to load the bases.  Dalton Smith, Walker Darnell, pinch-hitters RJ Bethea and Jared Landrey all followed with rbi walks to give the Braves the final tally of 11-1.

While the Braves were busy scoring runs, starting pitcher Kyle Smith was busy mowing down Tiger hitters.  He pitched four complete innings giving up just three singles and no earned run (1 unearned) while striking out 6 and issued no walks to collect the win.  Dylan  Thompson pitched the fifth inning giving up a walk, striking out two and giving up no runs as Manny Berdayes gunned down the runner trying to steal third for the final out of the inning.  Carlos Fernandez pitched the final inning of the game striking out the final batter of the game to preserve the 11-1 victory and strand the bases loaded after three walks.  The Braves improved to 2-0 in district and overall play.      

BRAVES BEAT MYRTLE BEACH 1-0 (March 6)

Chase Keevert pitched a three hit complete game shutout, striking out 8 and walking none as the Braves won their season opener.  Socastee scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning, and that was all Chase needed as he blanked the Seahawks for 7 innings.  Chase pitched brilliantly in the shutout, not even allowing a runner to reach third.  While the Braves offense could not produce any insurance runs, Chase held on to the one run lead and pitched his best down the stretch as the Seahawks put the tying run on base in each of the last 4 innings.   In the fourth and fifth innings, he struck out the last two batters of the inning after yielding one out doubles.  In the sixth inning, he worked around a lead-off error by getting the 2,3 a 4 hitters.   And in the seventh, he again worked around a one out error by striking out the last two hitters of the game.  The last one being off a check swing ball in the dirt that bounced toward the first base dugout only to have Manny Berdayes pounce on it  and rifle the man out at first to secure the win.

Offensively for the Braves, Hunter Renfrow was 1 for 2 with a walk and scored the only run on a steal of home plate.  Charlie Nicholson had a single in three at bats, and executed a beautiful "intentional caught in a run down" play that allowed Hunter to steal home.  Kenny Taylor was 1 for 2 with a walk,  while Dylan Thompson was 1 for 3 and hit another ball on the nose right at the third baseman which resulted in a double play.  The play typified the offense for the Braves as Manny Berdayes also hit into a double play on a hard liner to second with the bases loaded in the first inning and Charlie and Kyle Smith both drilled shots straight to the right fielder.