AC Flora @ James Island, Game 2

By: Banks Faulkner – June 3, 2021

-Falcons flock to 7th state title-

On Thursday evening, DP traveled to James Island for Game 2 of the 4A State Championship series. James Island looked to even the series and force a deciding game three for all the marbles. The visitors from AC Flora looked to add another trophy to their collection after a convincing 10-0 win on Tuesday night at Falcon Field. Cloudy skies and a threat of rain didn’t keep the fans away as a crowd of over 1,000 packed the ballpark. The grill was going, chicken bog on point and the stage was set for championship baseball.

Tonight featured two of the best pitchers in 4A baseball this season in Hogan Garner and Davis Rivers. Both entered the game with sparkling ERA’s and lots of punchouts. Garner and Rivers worked quickly through the first inning before the Falcon offense got going. On a 1-1 count, Max Childress blasted a hanging breaking ball over the wall in left-center field to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Trojans led off the bottom half of the frame with a single from Chase Worrill. Worrill moved from 1st to 3rd on an errant pickoff attempt but Rivers stranded him with a strikeout to end the inning.

The Falcons added to the lead in the third without a hit on a HBP and 3 BB. Phillips Daniels scored on a wild pitch with 2 outs to increase the lead to 2-0. The Falcons left the bases loaded however, as Garner got pinch-hitter Stephen West on a comebacker to the mound. Rivers retired the Trojans in order in the bottom half and the Falcons doubled their lead in the 4th inning.

Jack Reynolds led the inning with a single off Garner’s glove and was sacrificed to second on a bunt from Carew Bates. Daniels doubled to rightfield to score Reynolds and Zander Buchan blooped a single to left that was misplayed allowing Daniels to score.

The Falcons added to the lead in the fifth, scoring two on a single by Reynolds against the drawn-in infield. Rivers continued to cruise and the Falcons provided the final margin with four in the top of the sixth. Rivers was pulled after a HBP and 74 pitches for senior Matthew Crews who struck out the final hitter with the bases loaded to cap the Falcons 7th state championship in the past 20 years.

Finals: AC Flora 10 James Island 0, 6 innings: WP: Rivers Davis (9-0) LP: Hogan Garner (7-3)

Records: AC Flora (29-4) James Island (20-12-1)

Prospect Info: Coming Soon!